Why Did God Blind a Man from Birth?

Fourth Sunday in Lent

March 26, 2017

John 9:3

Why Did God Blind a Man from Birth?

In the name of the Father and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Are handicapped people more damaged than you? It is awkward to ask this sensitive question, but this question still remains: are you more able than a disabled person?

Jesus’ disciples seemed to think so.

As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. ²His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

JOHN 9:1-2 NIV 1984

They saw disability as punishment, a common view of the time. Yet Christ disagreed with the culture of that time and of today. For nothing has changed: the world still views disability as punishment, both for the child and the parents. This is the reason why so many in our allegedly civilized society support murdering babies if they show signs of disability. Nothing has changed, except that Christ has come and set us free with this Truth: all human life is precious, damaged or not.

But why did God allow this man to be damaged from birth? The man and his parents were sinners as all humans are from birth, but the blindness wasn’t punishment for their many sins.

Jesus said, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

JOHN 9:3 NIV 1984

God allowed this man to be blind for years, so that Jesus at this precise moment could heal him and show more evidence that He is the true Son of God. Perhaps this seems high-handed or even cruel to some. Maybe to you. Maybe to me. How could Jesus have prevented this man from having a full life, just to make a point?

If you look at the world and feel that the sum of life is a full life of career, family, and watching screens, then yes, you will see blind people as damaged and limited, never able to live a full life like you.

However, dear Christian, you trust that a full life is Jesus. Whether a Christian lives 10 minutes or 10 years, their life is full and good and undamaged because Jesus has died for them and had done His work in them.

³Jesus said, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. ⁴As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

JOHN 9:3-5 NIV 1984

Jesus is in the world and His works continues. He takes physically damaged people and physically able people into the hands of His servants and heals them both of their spiritual damage: their sin that loves themselves and hates Jesus. You are the evidence of His healing words: “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” and “Take and eat, this is My body”. You are the evidence of His love because you are alive, body and soul.

Now He doesn’t make miracle mud with His hands anymore; He calls on you, His living people, to use your hands to help and protect those who can’t see or walk or talk like you. Serve them because Christ has served you.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be Served, but to Serve, and to Give His Life as a Ransom for Many. Amen.