Today we were introduced to a man who had been in double
darkness ever since his birth. He
couldn’t see with his physical eyes and he had no spiritual sight either. After Jesus came to him he had double
light. He had gone from double darkness
to double light. What marvelous grace
God provides for us lost sinners!
An interesting question emerged in the first 2 verses of John 9. At first glance it looks like a ridiculous question by Jesus’ disciples. Think back to some ridiculous questions you’ve heard before.
Here, before us is another seemingly ridiculous question: “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
The disciples wanted to identify the cause of the blind man’s infirmity as sin. They wanted to find out whom they could blame. They were convinced that illness was the specific result of a particular sin. They saw a direct cause and effect situation. If the effect was blindness, the cause must be sin.
They were not the only one who thought that way. V. 34 shows the Pharisees also saw the same connection. So did Job’s three “friends.”
What could have prompted such a ridiculous question?
Jewish people did not believe in reincarnation, so that wasn’t it.
The Jewish people did believe that children were often punished because of specific sins of their parents.
But how could a baby born blind have sinned and caused his own blindness? Many of the Jews believed that even a child in the womb could sin. Jacob grabbed Esau’s heel. The argument was that self-will could be shown by an unborn child.
Were the disciples, Pharisees and Jews correct? Is all sickness the direct result of sin? Many people believe that even today. They have a sickness or a problem and begin to add to their sickness or problem a huge weight of guilt. They conclude they must be in the middle of God’s wrath – they are being punished for some colossal failure or sin, but for the life of them, they can’t figure out what it is.
Please rest assured that although some sickness or trouble is a direct result of sin, there are other causes of infirmities. There are many causes, but one in particular is given for us in this story. The reason the man was born blind had nothing to do with his own sin or the sin of his parents. Jesus told us that. Look at v. 3. The reason for his blindness was that the works of God might be displayed in him. This is very similar to what we read in John 11:4 with regard to Lazarus: “But when Jesus heard it he said, ‘this illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God many be glorified through it.’”
Maybe that is the same reason you are going through troubled waters right now. You are the means through which God will be glorified. Don’t let hard times lead you to guilt. Let them cause you to rejoice for being used to show God’s glory.
~Paul Thompson
An interesting question emerged in the first 2 verses of John 9. At first glance it looks like a ridiculous question by Jesus’ disciples. Think back to some ridiculous questions you’ve heard before.
1. Where
did you leave it?
2. Why
did you walk the weakest hitter on the team?
3. Can
God make a rock so big He can’t lift it?
4. Where
did they keep mosquitos on the ark?
5. When
is later, Dad?
Here, before us is another seemingly ridiculous question: “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
The disciples wanted to identify the cause of the blind man’s infirmity as sin. They wanted to find out whom they could blame. They were convinced that illness was the specific result of a particular sin. They saw a direct cause and effect situation. If the effect was blindness, the cause must be sin.
They were not the only one who thought that way. V. 34 shows the Pharisees also saw the same connection. So did Job’s three “friends.”
What could have prompted such a ridiculous question?
Jewish people did not believe in reincarnation, so that wasn’t it.
The Jewish people did believe that children were often punished because of specific sins of their parents.
But how could a baby born blind have sinned and caused his own blindness? Many of the Jews believed that even a child in the womb could sin. Jacob grabbed Esau’s heel. The argument was that self-will could be shown by an unborn child.
Were the disciples, Pharisees and Jews correct? Is all sickness the direct result of sin? Many people believe that even today. They have a sickness or a problem and begin to add to their sickness or problem a huge weight of guilt. They conclude they must be in the middle of God’s wrath – they are being punished for some colossal failure or sin, but for the life of them, they can’t figure out what it is.
Please rest assured that although some sickness or trouble is a direct result of sin, there are other causes of infirmities. There are many causes, but one in particular is given for us in this story. The reason the man was born blind had nothing to do with his own sin or the sin of his parents. Jesus told us that. Look at v. 3. The reason for his blindness was that the works of God might be displayed in him. This is very similar to what we read in John 11:4 with regard to Lazarus: “But when Jesus heard it he said, ‘this illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God many be glorified through it.’”
Maybe that is the same reason you are going through troubled waters right now. You are the means through which God will be glorified. Don’t let hard times lead you to guilt. Let them cause you to rejoice for being used to show God’s glory.
~Paul Thompson
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