Recently while studying on some archeological news I came across some new information about the pool of Siloam, more importantly the stairs. There was some recent excavation done to reveal more of the stairs and it intrigued me. Two reasons really, one being I’ve always loved seeing the Bible come to life as archeology finds more buried evidence of it! And secondly, well that’s what I’d like to share in today’s short Ascension Day blog: Jesus revealing who He was.

  So let’s jump right in to John 9. In verse one we see Jesus passing a blind man and after some discussion with His Disciples He made a clay paste and told the man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. This is the first mention we have of this pool in the New Testament. And it’s a revealing story because as you get past the Disciples condemning question in verse two Jesus answers in verse three like this: Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him”. Did you catch that? Jesus was refuting their entrenched ideology of if you sin something bad happens and gets right to the heart! God allows things to happen, good and bad, for His glory to be shown! But I digress, so Jesus goes on to say in verse 4-5 “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Then he turns to the man, spits on the ground and makes some mud and dabs it on the man’s eyes. Next he tells the man to go to the Pool of Siloam to wash. But wait ready for the spine tingling good part? The Pool of Siloam was used for ritual purification so a traveling pilgrim coming to Jerusalem could enter to the Temple! Now I don’t want to misuse Scripture but the symbolism is to great to not break this down a little.

   The Pool was built by King Hezekiah but later rebuilt in a slightly different position during the Greek occupation of Jerusalem around the later part of the last century BC. Though slightly different spot, same use: to provide a place for pilgrims coming to the Temple to wash and be clean to enter. Now, let’s get to the Temple. Again, different building than was originally built but same purpose; To house the sacred vessels of worship, to perform the sacrifices at, and a place to worship God.  So are you getting the picture now? A man, unclean and afflicted, confronted and touched by Christ is sent to the Pool of purification so he can come into the Temple to show himself to the Priesthood and be able to worship. 

Or let’s word it like this, Jesus redeemed a man who was washed and presented as whole and went to partake of the things of God. So now you see why Jesus said what He did in verses 4-5? This story is so full of the power of God on full display to the people around who understood the significance of a blind man being washed and healed in a pool meant for people to be ceremonially washed to be presented clean before God in the temple! What Jesus did to the blind man definitely showed who he was and His purpose! 

  Now let’s take what we now can see happening at the Pool of Siloam and consider this in this year’s Ascension Day: Jesus, who came to earth to save a lost people, has made a way with His body of clay to be our purifying sacrifice so we are cleansed with His blood and washed and when we receive His gift we are now able to stand before God, cleansed and whole again. It’s amazing, it’s marvelous and such a rich story that confirms who Jesus was on Earth. But guess what He didn’t stay here!

He died for man’s sins, was buried and rose again as a conquering Saviour. But that wasn’t end, He then ascended to Heaven where, as Paul states in Romans 8:34, He is making intercession for us! So yes, it’s amazing to see archeological evidence now being found that can historically show a place where such an amazing revelation was shown to man. So this Ascension Day, think of these miracles, the parables, and the teaching of Jesus. He showed us the way to the Father is through Him and provided a sacrifice for our sins, and then is now in Heaven interceding for His saved children and waiting for His time to come take His cleansed children to eternity with Him! Praise Him praise Him Jesus pur blessed redeemer!

As we continue on in our lives, consider what we’ve talked about in these last two blogs as we go through the Summer months. Am I accepting and following Jesus as my Saviour? And am I living in His Word for my daily direction on this road to eternity with Him? Let’s live for Him and not this world! Have an amazing summer serving Him class!