John 9:3-7
Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
We don’t often think like this in the modern world, but it was common back then to assume birth defects and tragedies were directly tied to a person’s sin…or in the case of a birth defect, the sins of the parents. Yes, sometimes birth defects and other such tragedies are due to the sinful behavior of the parents (drug addictions, alcoholism, etc.), yet far more often—and in the case Jesus spoke of here—it is due simply to sin and our fallen condition in general, and not tied to any specific sin. The sin of Adam set the principle of death and its associated destruction in the world and we have had to deal with it ever since. It is indeed a heartbreaking state of affairs.
Even so, we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28). But what about working in the lives of unbelievers…including the ones that hate him? First of all, we know that God does not desire for any to perish, but that everyone should come to him in repentance and faith (2 Pet. 3:9). But above that, God is working out His redemptive plan of world history for the good of His Kingdom and to bring Him Glory. Nothing gets wasted in God’s economy—especially when it comes to the lives of his redeemed children—and we should rest securely in his loving care, even when tragedy strikes.
This incident is a great reminder to look to Jesus in the midst of trials and disappointments! The disciples were more interested in the perceived dirty details than the suffering of the blind man…but as always, Jesus focused on the person made in his own image. Where do your thoughts go when tragedy strikes? When the suffering goes on for years? When the circumstances of one’s birth are less than desirable? Some start at the abortion clinic. Others choose bitterness, rage, and despair. Many choose to self-medicate with drugs and/or alcohol or even food. Some escape into isolation. Jesus would have all of us turn to Him.
In today’s case, we will see the Lord use this man’s healing in many different ways…and He is STILL using it, today. Think about that! If this man became a true Believer, he has spent the last two thousand years hearing from others how his story touched their lives. Can you imagine what that’s like? Neither can I. Or take Job…or the woman caught in adultery…or the woman at the well…or David…or Abraham…or any of the people in the bible whose stories of tragedy and triumph have touched countless millions over the millennia.
One final thought before we close regarding God’s providence and the suffering of mankind:
“This does not mean that God deliberately caused the child to be born blind in order that, after many years, his glory should be displayed in the removal of the blindness; to think so would again be aspersion on the character of God. It does mean that God overruled the disaster of the child’s blindness so that, when the child grew to manhood, he might, by the recovering of his sight, see the glory of God in the face of Christ, and others, seeing the work of God, might turn to the true Light of the World.” (Bruce)
Amen and Amen.
