John 9:1-11
"'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.'"
(John 9:2-3)
Why do bad things happen? The easy - or not-so-easy - answer is sin. Because of sin, God's perfect creation, including humanity, has been corrupted.
So it was natural for Jesus' disciples to blame this man's blindness on sin. But who sinned, they wanted to know. Since the man was born blind, could he have sinned in his mother's womb? If he was not the guilty one, then was it his parents? The disciples took this difficult question to Jesus, the One who had answered other questions about God's nature and His ways.
Jesus told them there was one more option to consider. In this case, the reason for the man's blindness was not the consequence of his or his parents' sin. This blindness was to illustrate the glory of God in a powerful way. Jesus would bring light to one man so that all men would give glory to God.
You and I still have an opportunity to give glory to God. We may not be able to cure physical blindness, but by our words and deeds we can point people to the Light of the world each day.
INSIGHT
IS THERE SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT SEEMS PURPOSELESS? ASK GOD TO USE IT FOR HIS GLORY, THEN WATCH HIM DO IT!
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Jeremiah 29-30
Psalm 118
1 Corinthians 10
John 9:1-11
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
THE COMING FIRE
Does the judgment seat of God fill you with fear? It ought to. Jesus was very clear about that, but you don't have to live in fear either. There is something else you need to know.
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