“ It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ,
I’m sure you are all quite familiar with the episode in the life of our Lord from which the words above are derived. This explanatory statement was uttered by Jesus in response to a question posed by His Disciples upon their encounter with a man suffering from congenital blindness. The full episode is found in John 9, where we read the following account:
1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 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 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
On this new Monday, I’d like to suggest some very encouraging truths that we discover here in this remarkable story of our Lord’s healing power and profound compassion.
First, like all of the miracles that Jesus performed, this one demonstrated that with the coming of our Savior to this world, the Kingdom of God had broken in to human history. This is what Jesus meant when He said, “ the kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:21). The miraculous healing of this poor and afflicted man was a dramatic demonstration of the presence of that eternal kingdom! And it illustrated the greater miracle of salvation, which is for all who believe. Just as it was the power of God’s eternal kingdom, His “ works” of healing and salvation, that were “ displayed” in the man’s deliverance from his blindness, the power of God alone is sufficient to save all hopeless sinners who place their trust in Christ Jesus.
Secondly, as our Lord explains, this man’s blindness was not caused immediately by anyone’s sin. Rather, his terrible affliction came from the hand of the Father for the purpose that He might display His glory in the man’s weakness. And take note of the interesting juxtaposition of the words “ blind from birth” (v. 1), and “ displayed in him” (v. 3). In the life of this one who could not see, the world would behold the glory of God! What a turnaround! What a surprise! Those around him surely would have concluded that his affliction was meaningless and his existence equally tragic. Yet the Father, who is eternally wise and compassionate, had another purpose in view; one that was unimaginably good and glorious!
And then, there is a most encouraging word here for each of us today who belong to the great Healer and Redeemer. It is surely true that all of our afflictions, despite their apparent cause, are instruments of our Father’s glory and the means by which He brings us ultimate good! I can easily imagine that this blind man’s family agonized over his condition every day without fail. His friends looked upon him with hopeless pity. His doctors were distressed that no cure could be found. And he himself was resigned to the fact that this was simply his lot in life, and he was cruelly destined to exist in such a pitiable state until death finally freed him. But the eternal and unfailing reality that overwhelmed all of these emotions and conclusions about the quality and meaning of his life was that God was at work in Him! His condition was not due to the unfortunate roll of the cosmic dice. His affliction came from his Father! And in the midst of this awful pain the Father would do something unthinkably grand!
I am convinced that all of us who are in Christ can apply this great fact to our own personal pains and afflictions. Despite their size, duration, or apparent cause, they each have a purpose which was determined in eternity by our Father’s wise counsel. And that is to glorify our Lord and King!
And this also means that those afflictions that come upon us corporately as the beloved Body and Bride of Christ are also ours by divine design. COVID 19 has come upon us for God’s glory and our good! The political upheaval and turmoil in our country has come upon us so that God’s awesome work might be seen in us! The instability of the surrounding nations, and that of our whole world, has come upon us so that our Father might cause all of earth and heaven to behold His beauty, grace, sufficiency, and His glory in us!
So, my beloved ones, take comfort in this: The Maker of time, space, the stars, and this world is your Father! He is working in and for each of us! His kingdom is present now! Even in our afflictions He is glorifying His Name and bringing us eternal good! Let us trust Him! Let us rest in His purpose!
I love you all more than words can express!
Mike