John 9:6
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,
John 9:6 (KJV)
Context
This verse belongs to the larger account of Jesus healing a man born blind (John 9:1-12). As Jesus and His disciples walked along, they saw the man, and the disciples asked whether his blindness came from his own sin or his parents’ sin. Jesus answered that it was neither, but that the works of God should be displayed in him (John 9:3). He then declared, “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” (John 9:4-5). In verse 6, Jesus acts on that purpose by healing the blind man in a distinctive way.
Meaning
Jesus spat on the ground, made clay with the spittle, and anointed the blind man’s eyes. This method was unconventional; Jesus could have healed with a single word, as He did elsewhere, but He chose a physical, earthy sign. The clay itself had no healing power. The power rested in Christ, who used the clay as a means to display the works of God. His personal involvement shows His compassion and His willingness to take the initiative in bringing sight to the blind.
The act also prepared the man for the next step. After anointing his eyes, Jesus sent him to wash in the pool of Siloam (John 9:7). The man’s obedience to that command was part of the healing process, demonstrating that faith and obedience accompany divine power.
Biblical connections
By using clay, Jesus echoed the Creator’s work in Genesis 2:7, where God formed man from the dust of the ground. This connection emphasizes Jesus’ divine authority over creation. The same God who shaped man from the earth now shaped clay to restore sight. The humble, lowly elements of dirt and spittle show that God often uses ordinary means to accomplish His purposes, and that no material is too common for His touch.
Jewish tradition of the time regarded spittle as having medicinal value for eyes, and the Mishnah mentions “spittle clay” as a weak, thin clay. Jesus used His own spittle because no water was nearby, but the healing power was not in the spittle or the clay; it was in Christ alone. His action also set the stage for the Sabbath controversy that followed (John 9:14), showing that Jesus did not defer doing good even on the Sabbath.
Application
This miracle challenges us to trust God’s methods, even when they seem unusual or unexpected. Jesus is not limited to one way of working. He may use circumstances, people, or simple elements to bring transformation, but the power always comes from Him. The blind man’s healing depended on his willingness to follow Jesus’ instruction to wash in Siloam. In the same way, our obedience to Christ’s commands opens the way for His work in our lives, even when we do not fully understand His purposes.
Reflection
John 9:6 reveals Jesus as the light of the world, giving sight to the blind both physically and spiritually. His use of clay and spittle demonstrates His divine authority as Creator and His willingness to engage personally with human need. As we read this verse, we are invited to trust that the God who formed man from the dust can also bring healing and new life through humble means. The same Jesus who anointed the blind man’s eyes still works today, calling us to believe and obey.
