ACC ~ John 9 v7

HEALING DOES NOT OCCUR IN JESUS’ PRESENCE

ORIGEN: But to heal in his absence, to tell him to go away and wash and to provide the healing only once he has washed—this was the work of someone who wanted to be sure that no one would be ignorant of the miracle that had taken place. For as he commanded the paralytic to take up his bed on the day when it was not lawful to do this—so that each man charging him with the transgression might learn the greatness of the miracle—in the same way he commanded this man who was at a distance from the pool to go there and wash. FRAGMENT 63 ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. [1]

[1] AEG 4:4-5*; GCS 10 (4):535.

THE WASHING OF REGENERATION

IRENAEUS: As, therefore, we are formed in the womb by the Word, this very same Word also formed sight in the one who had been blind from his birth. In this way, he openly showed who it is who forms us in secret, since now the Word himself had been revealed to the world. It also made known the ancient formation of Adam and how he was made, and through what hand he was formed—indicating the whole [of Adam’s creation] by showing us a part [of it]. For the Lord who formed sight is he who has formed the entire person, and in doing so, carried out the will of the Father. But in respect to that formation in men and women that took place after Adam—when humanity fell into sin—there was a need for the washing of regeneration. This is why the Lord said to the man to whom he had given sight, “Go to Siloam and wash.” In this way, he provided both his physical reformation and his regeneration which comes through washing. And this is why, when he washed, he came back seeing. He would come to know his creator and humanity would come to know him who has given us life. AGAINST HERESIES 5.15.3. [1]

[1] ANF 1:543**.

YOU TOO COME TO SILOAM

AMBROSE: Again, I ask you: What is he trying to convey to us by spitting on the ground, mixing his saliva with clay and putting it on the eyes of a blind man, saying, “Go and wash yourself in the pool of Siloam (a name that means ‘sent’)”? What is the meaning of the Lord’s action in this? Surely one of great significance, since the person whom Jesus touches receives more than just his sight.

In one instant we see both the power of his divinity and the strength of his holiness. As the divine light, he touched this man and enlightened him. As priest, by an action symbolizing baptism he wrought in him his work of redemption. The only reason for his mixing clay with the saliva and smearing it on the eyes of the blind man was to remind you that he who restored the man to health by anointing his eyes with clay is the very one who fashioned the first man out of clay, and that this clay that is our flesh can receive the light of eternal life through the sacrament of baptism.

You, too, should come to Siloam, that is, to him who was sent by the Father, as he says in the Gospel: “My teaching is not my own; it comes from him who sent me.” Let Christ wash you, and you will then see. Come and be baptized, it is time; come quickly, and you too will be able to say, “I went and washed”; you will be able to say, “I was blind, and now I can see.” And, as the blind man said when his eyes began to receive the light, you too can say, “The night is almost over and the day is at hand.” LETTER 67.4-6. [1]

[1] CSEL 82 2:166-67. Cyril speaks of his healing as a type of the Gentiles’ salvation; see Commentary on the Gospel of John 6.1.

THE POWER OF THE LORD’S WORD

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: For Siloam did not open [the eyes of] the blind man, just as the waters of the Jordan did not purify Naaman, [1] but rather it was the command [by our Lord] that brought the healing. Also, it is not the waters of our atonement that bring purification; rather, it is the names invoked over it [2] that produce atonement for us. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 16.29. [3]

[1] 2 Kings 5:14.

[2] The water of atonement refers to the baptismal liturgy, and the names that are pronounced over it are those of the Trinity.

[3] CB709:188.

Jn