From Darkness into Light                                    John 9:1-41 [1] And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. [2] And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? [3] Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. [4] I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. [5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. [6] When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, [7] And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. [8] The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? [9] Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. [10] Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? [11] He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. [12] Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. [13] They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. [14] And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. [15] Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. [16] Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. [17] They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. [18] But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. [19] And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? [20] His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: [21] But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. [22] These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. [23] Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. [24] Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. [25] He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. [26] Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? [27] He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? [28] Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. [29] We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. [30] The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. [31] Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. [32] Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. [33] If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. [34] They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. [35] Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? [36] He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? [37] And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. [38] And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. [39] And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. [40] And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? [41] Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
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1. THE HEALING OF THE BLIND MAN (John 9:1-7 [1] And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. [2] And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? [3] Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. [4] I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. [5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. [6] When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, [7] And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
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1. The Circumstances of the Healing (John 9:1And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
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1. Jesus passed by; there were no chance circumstances in the life of Jesus; He always passed by at the right time.
1. Two blind men – “when they heard that Jesus passed by” (Matthew 20:30And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.
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2. Levi [Matthew] – “as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me” (Mark 2:14And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
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2. Jesus saw the blind man.
1. Jesus saw what others did not see (John 4:35Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
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2. Jesus saw Zacchaeus in the tree (Luke 19:5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
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2. The Cause of the Blindness (John 9:2-3 [2] And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? [3] Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
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1. The question of the disciples (John 9:2And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
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1. Who did sin? – They assumed that the blindness was caused by the particular sin of someone. This was a common practice of the Jews.
1. The accusations of the friends of Job (Job 4:7-8 [7] Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? [8] Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
   See All...; Job 8:20Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
   See All...; Job 11:6And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
   See All...; Job 22:5-10 [5] Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? [6] For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. [7] Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. [8] But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it. [9] Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. [10] Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;
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2. The Jewish take on evil events (Luke 13:2-5 [2] And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? [3] I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. [4] Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? [5] I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
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2. The choices offered by the disciples
1. Did this man sin?
2. Did this man’s parents sin?
2. NOTE: The Bible teaches that the physical afflictions of this life (illness, accident, suffering, etc.) can be traced to three moral causes:
1. Personal sins (Jeremiah 31:30But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
   See All...; Ezekiel 18:4Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
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2. Parental sins (Exodus 20:5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
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3. Adamic sin (Romans 5:12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
   See All...; Romans 8:20-23 [20] For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, [21] Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 [21] For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. [22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
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4. However, as seen in this passage of John, the Jews tended to emphasize the first two causes at the expense of the third. In Luke 13:2-5 [2] And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? [3] I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. [4] Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? [5] I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
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3. How could a man be born blind in punishment for his own sins? There are three possibilities:
1. Reincarnation: perhaps the man was paying for sins of an earlier life.
1. It is possible that pagan religious teaching had seeped into popular Jewish beliefs (see Matthew 16:13-14 [13] When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? [14] And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
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2. However, the Jewish teachers rejected this doctrine.
3. Also, the Bible clearly rejects the doctrine of reincarnation (Hebrews 9:27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
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2. Fetal sins: Some taught that a child could sin in the womb.
1. Jacob and Esau struggled in the womb (Genesis 25:22And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
   See All..., 26).
2. David spoke of his sinfulness in the womb (Psalm 51:5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
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3. On the other side, John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost from the womb (Luke 1:15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
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4. However, these passages do not speak of personal guilt or merit in the womb. David speaks of the sin nature in all men. The struggle between Esau and Jacob foretold of a later struggle, but it did not refer to sin. The filling of John the Baptist was a work of God and had nothing to do with his internal merit. He was still a sinner by nature and by practice.
3. Future sins: Perhaps the man was being punished for sins God knew he would commit after his birth.
1. Elisha mourned over the evils Hazael would commit (2 Kings 8:10-13 [10] And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die. [11] And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. [12] And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child. [13] And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.
   See All...). Could not God anticipate our sins?
2. Though certainly possible, there is no indication in scripture that God gives out such punishment.
4. Conclusion: the Jews were probably influenced by certain popular, but incorrect, teachings. Jesus would change their focus from speculating on the cause to understanding the purpose.
4. The response of Jesus (John 9:3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
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1. Not because of a particular sin. Clearly, the sin nature in a fallen world was enough to explain the cause of this man’s blindness.
2. For the purpose of revealing the works of God in him (John 11:4When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
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3. The Cure for All Blindness (John 9:4-5 [4] I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. [5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
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1. The One who does the works of God (John 9:4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
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1. The man was blind so that the works of God might be manifest (John 9:3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
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2. Christ came to do the works of God (John 9:4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
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3. The blind man was blind in order to bring glory to Christ when he was healed.
2. The time to do the works of God (John 9:4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
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1. While it is day
2. Before the night comes
3. Note: There is always an urgency to the work of the Lord. Work must be completed while there is time to do it. The time will soon come when no more work can be finished (Matthew 24:42-44 [42] Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. [43] But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. [44] Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
   See All...; Romans 13:11-12 [11] And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. [12] The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
   See All...; 2 Corinthians 6:2(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
   See All...; 1 Thessalonians 5:6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
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3. The light of the world (John 9:5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
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1. Jesus is the light of the world (John 1:9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
   See All...; John 8:12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
   See All...; John 12:46I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
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2. As long as He is in the world
4. The Cure of the Blind Man (John 9:6-7 [6] When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, [7] And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
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1. Jesus anointed his eyes with clay (John 9:6When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
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1. The dust of the ground: a picture of the human nature (Genesis 2:7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
   See All...; Genesis 3:19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
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2. The spittle: though many refer to the healing nature of spittle, the true emphasis in scripture is on its disgusting nature. It is a source of shame and uncleanness in the Bible (Leviticus 15:8And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
   See All...; Numbers 12:14And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
   See All...; Deuteronomy 25:9Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house.
   See All...; Job 30:10They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.
   See All...; Isaiah 50:6I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
   See All...; Matthew 27:30And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
   See All...). This must then picture the sinfulness of man.
3. The clay: this pictures the sinful, fallen nature of man (Job 10:9Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?
   See All...; Job 33:6Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
   See All...; Isaiah 45:9Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
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4. The anointing of the eyes: this pictures the true cause of blindness in this man, but also in all men. In effect, Jesus was answering the question of the disciples on the cause of the man’s blindness. His blindness was caused by his Adamic nature. But this was also a picture of the cause of blindness in all men. They are blind to spiritual things because of their sinful nature (Matthew 23:24-26 [24] Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. [25] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. [26] Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
   See All...; John 9:39-41 [39] And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. [40] And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? [41] Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
   See All...; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 [3] But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: [4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
   See All...; Ephesians 4:17-18 [17] This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, [18] Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
   See All...; Revelation 3:17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
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2. Jesus sent him to the pool of Siloam (John 9:7And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
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1. The meaning of Siloam is Sent. This is especially significant because the interpretation is given by the Holy Ghost in the text.
2. Who or what is identified in scripture as Sent?
1. Jesus is the Sent One (John 8:18I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
   See All...; John 3:17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
   See All..., 34; John 5:24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
   See All..., 30, 36-38; John 6:38-40 [38] For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. [39] And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. [40] And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
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2. The Holy Ghost is sent (John 14:26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
   See All...; John 15:26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
   See All...; John 16:7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
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3. The disciples are sent (John 17:18As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
   See All...; John 20:21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
   See All...; Acts 1:8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
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3. This pictures the need of those who are spiritually blind to go to the sent ones in order to receive sight.
3. Jesus commanded him to wash in the water (John 9:7And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
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1. Water is a picture of the word of God (John 15:3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
   See All...; John 17:17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
   See All...; Ephesians 5:26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
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2. The man received his sight by washing in the water. We are saved by the working of the word of God on our blindness (James 1:18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
   See All..., 21; 1 Peter 1:23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
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3. Conclusion: we are sent to take the water of the word to those blinded by sin so that they might wash their eyes and see.