Jesus is the Light of the World

The man born blind-The question of suffering.

 “Jesus saw a man who was born blind at birth. His disciples asked him, 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.” Having said this, he spat on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the pool of siloam”. So the man went and washed and came back seeing.”
(Jesus in the New Testament in the Gospel of John Chapter 9).

It is very easy to believe that God is punishing us when things are going wrong in our lives. It is also easy to believe we are being punished for some past or present sin and that God is out to get revenge on us.

However, Jesus deals with this matter very differently. His disciples asked him the question whose sin it was that caused this man to be born blind. He said to them, “it was neither his sin nor his parents sin that caused this man to be born blind; it was so that the glory of God may be shown in his life.” Jesus shows great compassion in the answer that he gives to his disciples.
The disciples must have been surprised by it.

Jesus did not see things from a human point of view but from God’s point of view. The disciples of Jesus had thought up to this point that suffering was a result of sin but Jesus shows them that in any situation the glory of God can be shown—no matter how bad that situation looks to us. The blind man was healed by Jesus and he could now see. His life had been turned around by Jesus.

Dear friends, the good news for you and me is that no matter what situation we find ourselves in today and regardless of what wrong we have done to others or what wrong others have done to us. Jesus can turn it around and show his glory in us.

Another point to remember is that God has already punished Jesus on the cross for the sins we have committed. He has no wrath left for us. We do not any longer need to feel that God is out to get us.

However, we do have to put our trust in the sacrifice Jesus has made on our behalf. His sacrifice covers all our guilt and sin.

Prayer

Dear God

I come before you as I am,

I cannot change anything,

But I know you can.

Please can you show your glory in my life,

And turn it into something beautiful.

I ask this in Jesus name.

Amen

By Harbajan (Servant of Jesus) 9-9-2011