Commentary on "The Water of Life"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 6: Thursday, April 22, 2010

 

Overview

Now, we are concerned with the therapeutic healing properties of water.

He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed and received my sight." (John 9:11 ESV)

 

Observations

When we study the account of the man who had been blind since birth, we can be certain that if the waters in the Pool of Siloam had the power to give him his sight it would have happened long before Jesus displayed his healing power. In faith the man obeyed Jesus who was the one who performed this miracle. Without Jesus the water would have caused nothing to happen. Any natural healing properties that water may have cannot replace what the man had been missing since birth.

In the lesson the question is then posed asking how this account differs from where Jesus heals others mentioned in Matt. 8:8-13; 9:2-7; and Luke 8:46-47. The answer is simple. There is no difference. Only by the miraculous power of Jesus was anyone healed.

Consider now the story of Naaman the leper found in II Kings 5:1-19. Did the waters of the Jordan River heal him? Certainly not! Even Naaman himself knew that it was only by the power of the God of Israel that he was healed when he exercised enough faith to do what he was told to do.

Our modern understanding of the nature and spread of disease supports the many biblical injunctions for bathing to remove the contaminating effect of contact with various sicknesses. . A hundred years ago, everyday bathing was such a new concept, even in Adventist sanitariums it was suggested that you shouldn’t bath without consulting with a medical doctor first. (Pacific Health Journal, Vol. 1, Issue 1, June 1885, pages 3 & 4, Pacific Press)

 

Summary

1. There is little doubt that the internal use of water is vital for maintaining good health.
2. The bible also supports what we know about the cleansing power of water to remove the contaminating effects of disease.
3. While the advocates of hydrotherapy practice many techniques that seem to have healing properties that are of value, not everyone agrees with some of their claims. In any case, this is a topic for medical research that is outside the realm of biblical research and study.

 

GO TO DAY 7

 

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