Who Sinned?

This morning as I sit to write on developing a Biblical Theology of Suffering,  there is one story in the New Testament that came to mind and is worthy of our time..

So, let's jump in...

The apostle John records a story in chapter 9 that caused quite a stir among the Pharisees and Saducees of Jesus' day...and, it convinced them that Jesus had to be a "sinner" because he healed a man-born-blind on the Sabbath (shock!). 

That is another lesson in itself; but, the one on which I'll focus begins right here (verses 1-5):

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents. But, that the works of God might be displayed in him, I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day...As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world..."

Do you find it interesting that Jesus' disciples found no cause for compassion as they walked past this poor man, but decided to use his plight as a point for theological discussion? There are times I simply shake my head at Jesus' disciples, til I am reminded, I am "they." 

The disciples were convinced someone had sinned and that's why this man was born blind - it either had to be the parents or the child himself, while still in the womb (seriously, certain Jewish leaders in that day believed this entirely possible). So, they asked Jesus: 

WHO SINNED?

Even today, it's a theological question that pops into our heads when someone is in the midst of trials...

Let's face it; our minds still go there...

Who sinned? What did they do, or didn't do, that put them in this position? 

In this regard, the disciples, and, me/myself, have come no further than poor Job's miserable friends, who insisted that Job just needed to confess his sin and all would be forgiven and made right in his world again. 

("If you would but seek God and ask Him for mercy..." This was Job's friends. No mercy. They simply assumed Job had sinned.)

In defense of all of us, we are fully aware that illness is certainly one of the results of Adam and Eve's sin.

With the fall of man in the Garden of Eden and sin entering the world, there is a universal truth to this young man's blindness being the ultimate result of sin.

Along with that universality is another truth: ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD (Romans 3:23).  

So, there's that, as well.

But specific sin being the result? 

Nah. Not necessarily.

And...even if it were...that's not for us to judge, but for each one of us to look inside and do a soul-check on ourselves, and not for us to play Holy Spirit to someone else.

This is exactly why God's anger burned against Job's friends; for they had misspoken against the Lord and His character. 

It's why Jesus was oh-so-quick to defend the man-born-blind to His disciples.

He would do the same to us, as well.

Sin is not always the root cause of sorrow and suffering.

Life happens.

It's not fair.

It's not right.

But above all the suffering, in all the suffering, throughout the days of our seasons of suffering, the attitude must be: What is God doing because of the trials? in the trials? through the hardships and difficulties? How is He at work and revealing Himself? 

Because in all the pain - the Lord wants His character to be rightly displayed. 

He desires to be seen above it all.

He longs for His light to shine to the lost who watch us -  

Even in (and maybe especially in) vessels that are broken, light often shines the brightest, through the cracks and holes. 

It's not because God is mean or selfish, but He chooses to use all things, even evil and hard things, to turn them for our good and His glory.

It's exactly what Joseph realized as he passed through his tribulations -

So, if you're in the midst of a "season," sit with it (just as Job did on his ash-heap).

Search your own heart - is there any need for repentance and a change of heart, mind and life? 

Then wait on God...

...and, live by faith!

If your neighbor is in the midst of difficulty...

Sit with them.

Shower them with compassion.

Talk to God and not at them.

Help strengthen them on their journey through the season to the other side.

Keep fanning the flame, so the light of God within them shines through the darkness for the lost to see.