Displaying the Work of God

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

DISPLAYING THE WORK OF GOD

John 9:1-5

9:1 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 work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work 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." 

NIV

Again, we are just at the beginning a long dialog between the man born blind and the Pharisees, after he received his sight because of Jesus. The question which his disciples asked has been one asked again and again through the ages and still seems to be one many would like to know the answer. Why are people born with defects or abnormalities? That is not to say blindness is a defect, yet in a sense, it is not how we were intended to be, as we were created with sight. If we are going to take the answer of Jesus regarding this man born blind, then should we be able to apply his answer to all people born with an abnormality? However, their question indicated there must have been a mindset in those days that anyone born blind, lame, or with some other infirmity was a result of sin, either the persons or their parents. How could a man born blind be the result of his sin? He was blind the moment he took his first breath. Yes, he, like all men, are born with original sin, but it is doubtful he had personal sin at birth, as that is something we learn. However, were all his disciples aware this man was born blind? The narrative tells us he was, but we are not sure they knew at that time. Still, their concern was as to who sinned that caused this man’s blindness. It appears they were thinking that sin manifests itself in the physical condition of the body. It is interesting that Jesus made it clear that neither this blind man nor his parents sinned. Was Jesus saying they both were sinless? Some scholars are of the opinion the man's blindness was of the providence of God, which is God caused this man to be born blind, so that his blindness would be the cause of his salvation and that God would receive glory through it. Was that just for this man at this time, or can we apply that type of thinking today? If we can apply it today then we would have to say all people born with infirmities, as well as those who become ill or have some defect later in life are a result of divine providence and they will at some point in life be saved as a result of their problem. We know it is the divine nature of God to heal. He says so. Why then are there so many illnesses in the world, and for that matter in the church? Healing needs to bring glory to God. Could the reason some are not healed is that they simply seek relief from their stressful condition? Could this be an application of that truth, “You have not because you ask not, or you ask with wrong motives”? This blind man did not even ask to be healed.  Jesus saw him as he was walking along. Of course, Jesus, being divine, had to know what he was going all along. Still, the questions continue. Why do we have infirmities if we are already saved? Why aren’t those non-believers healed so that they will be saved? The only answer which can be applied is being healed must bring glory to God, it is essential we give him all the praise, all the glory for everything in our lives. Certainly, our spirit has been healed, our soul has been healed, yet at times our bodies remain unhealed. Shouldn’t we expect God to heal our bodies as well? Maybe the problem is we actually do not expect him to heal us. We would like him to, but do we totally believe he will heal us? Again, we are not told this blind man requested to be healed, he just was, so God would be glorified, so the work of God would be displayed in his life. That is the answer, all that happens in our lives should be so the work of God is displayed in us.