The answer is: He anointed his eyes with clay and told him to wash

John 9:6-7

In John 9, we encounter an intriguing miracle — Jesus healing a man who was born blind. Not only does this act highlight Jeus’s power, but it also weaves in deep symbolic meanings. The method Jesus chooses — using clay made from his own saliva — resonates with the creation narrative in Genesis, where God forms human beings from the dust of the earth. Here, clay literally and figuratively represents the essence of creation and restoration.

After the blind man received the anointing of clay, Jesus instructs him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. This pool was an important site in Jerusalem, known for its purification rites, and the word “Siloam” itself means “sent.” By sending the man to wash, Jesus emphasizes a broader point: doing requires belief. As the man followed through, an active participation in his own miracle unfolded.

Interestingly, John’s Gospel is rich with themes of light and darkness, reflecting the early Church’s struggles against ignorance and disbelief. The healed blind man's subsequent course of events also sparks conversations on faith, as he becomes a witness not only to his own transformation but to Jesus’ identity as the “Light of the world.” With hearing lessons on societal views on disability nestled in this narrative, it also raises key discussions about inclusivity and empathy, offering valuable insights that reverberate through the ages.