Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 22 & 23; Revelation 10; Zechariah 6; John 9
John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
To be born blind would be a terrible handicap. A person born blind would not know what colors were. They would not be able to understand a horizon or see a beautiful mountain in the distance. Here was a man who was born blind and the disciples wanted to know whose sin caused it, his or his parents. This question of theirs reveals some of their theology. They thought there was a way that baby in his mother’s womb could have sinned! They also wondered if something his parents had done caused the baby to be born blind.
Could a parent’s sin affect an unborn child? Yes, a mother who uses drugs while she is pregnant could have a child that is mentally and/or physically handicapped because of her drug use. Could a person sin against God and him cause the baby to die? Yes, that is what happened with David and Bathsheba’s baby (2 Samuel 12). However, this teaching in God’s Word is important because it lets us know that not every handicap is directly related to a parent’s sin. Jesus tells them it is neither this man nor his parents that has sinned to cause this blindness.
This man was going to become the recipient of the mighty work of God. I wonder how this man viewed his condition. I wonder if he struggled with how to glorify God in his life? A handicap can be something that causes bitterness and anger toward God. However, Jesus tells us that the healing of this man is to help us all understand a little more about God’s Messiah.
John 9:4-5 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Without light you cannot see. Jesus is telling us that his presence in the world brought light so that men could see. When he left to return to his Father, the light did not leave because he lighted many candles to continue burning with his light.
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.
Just as Jesus had work to do, so we also have work to do. As we walk in the light, God will use our witness to open many blind eyes. What is it that causes you to struggle with how to glorify God? Maybe that is just the thing Jesus is going to use to show himself strong in your life!
In Christ,
Rody
