The Pool of Siloam

Today, I visited the Pool of Siloam at the southern end of the City of David. The recent excavations drew me here.

In the time of Jesus, the Pool of Siloam served thousands of pilgrims and citizens of Jerusalem. It appears now that one of the uses of the pool was as a mikveh. Pilgrims could take their ritual baths before ascending to the Temple.

The Gospel of John relates two incidents where the pool was the medium of God's activity. The first occasion is found in John 7:37-39 and takes place during the Feast of Tabernacles. On the last day of the festival, the High Priest would descend to the pool and dip water for the libation offering. Mixing water and prayers upon his return to the Temple precincts, the anticipated result was the early rains in October. According to John, Jesus takes this opportunity to proclaim: "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me..."

The second incident recorded by John (9:1-12) is the healing of a man born blind. Using mud made with saliva, Jesus commands that the man wash in the Pool of Siloam. There follows a rather long account of the consternation of the Pharisees, an investigation of the circumstances surrounding the miracle, and a denunciation by Jesus of the religious leaders' spiritual blind-

ness. The implication is that Jesus is the light of the world for all who have eyes to see.

What I discover today is the newly excavated Herodian street from the time of Jesus. I am moved by the knowledge that this is the street that the High Priest and the blind man would have traveled. Almost certainly, Jesus came this way too!

Even more, I am stirred to faith in God's provision. As long ago in this place God provided rain for his people in season and sight for a blind man, so God still provides for the people of this land and for me.