John 9:1-4 Born Blind for the Glory!

 

John 9:1-3

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

 

Without context, people see these verses and incorrectly concludes that God being sovereign does stuff in incomprehensible way, so that it brings glory to him. This all derives from a wrong understanding of who God is, and the nature of God.

A lot of people understands the above verse as saying, God made this man blind from birth so that when Jesus walks by, and sees him, will then heal him to demonstrate the power of God, to bring glory to God and make people believe.

The problem with this interpretation which is, Whilst in the grand scheme of things, God has a master plan that fulfils an ultimate purpose, and in that ultimate purpose there are people who are more lucky than others and there will be some that is less fortunate.  All these events just completes the grand screenplay that God has written. This sounds all of for story, however if you are that blind man, or his parents, that must have been the most unfortunate thing that could happen, and what is worst you can do nothing about it, because God has made it that way.

I used to think, I am having the life I am having because God somehow has a will for me, or a destiny for me to go through trials, for a greater purpose. When misfortune happens, I accounted it to God, like I would account this blind man being blind to the plans of God. This leaves us in a passive state of accepting lack and infirmity as part of a greater purpose, part of God’s master plan. And more specific God’s will for your life.

However when we say this, we are saying God the father will willingly allow his kids to be blind, then later fix him to show people how great and powerful he is. Try changing the narrative, hypothetically let us say in today’s world there is a Dad that has invented a medicine that can heal blindness. In order to show the world how great this medicine can work. He takes his just born child and plugs his eyes out. Lets him live for 30 years blind, so that people know that his son is blind and makes no mistakes of it. Then heals his son, so that the world could witness how great an inventor he is. This definitely demonstrates the power of his medicine, but it also demonstrates how evil his heart is.

When we say God made the man blind, in order to manifest his glory. We are saying God is all powerful and heals, but at the same time we are speaking so much underneath, that God is unjust and a cold hearted God. This is not our God, God didn’t make the man blind to show us his glory. Let us explore what the scripture actually says.

The disciples asked, “is it this man’s sin or his parents sins that made this man born blind?” And Jesus answered “NEITHER!” It was not his sinful action or thoughts (he was blind when he was born), nor was it his parents personal sin. Jesus didn’t address in this instance what was the cause, but we know from the Old Testament that death came because of sin, and the world was cursed with it. So if one was to chase back to the defects, sickness and infirmities that are in this world, Adam’s incorrect decision was the cause. So what does “ but that the works of God should be made manifest in him”? It is not saying the God made the person blind from birth, so that today God can manifest his power in Jesus to show the world.

Lets read further

John 9:4-5

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day, the night cometh when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

 

It is saying BECAUSE this man IS blind, the sozo works of God must be done on this man. Vs 4, I (jesus) must work the works of him (the FATHER, and his will) who sent me. I must heal this man.  While it is day, (whilst I am here) The night cometh (when I won’t be here) and no man can work in those days (his death and burial). Vs 5, As long as I am in the world, I am the light that manifests the will and the power of the father.

God didn’t design this man to be blind, this man was born blind because of the fallen world, however Jesus demonstrated the will of the father, and that is to heal the blind, not to make them blind. Jesus is saying, when we see people who are oppressed by sickness, we are to set them free.

With Jesus being away, Who now is the light of the world? We need to manifest not just the power of God, which is so necessary, but we are to manifest the heart of the loving father, it is with the goodness of God that people change their heart. This is the message, it is about God loving us, and wanting us to be well, and abundant, in this life and the one to come.