And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2, ESV) What an interesting question! What an assumption! The disciples asking this question don’t even see how arrogant it is, for they suppose that since they can see, they have not sinned as this man or his parents have. Notice what Jesus said. Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:3, ESV)
Humans often try to categorize everything. In this case, the disciples of Jesus believed that this man’s blindness fit into a specific category; they just weren’t sure whose fault it was. They never considered that there was another category that had nothing to do with them, the blind man or his parents—it’s called God’s glory. This can be scary because it complicates the question of who sinned. It means that even innocent people can suffer.
This highlights that we don’t know as much as we think we do about someone else’s situation, that God’s sovereignty is greater than our logic, and that it is foolish to compare ourselves to each other. Put another way, Jesus said this at the end of John’s chapter. Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” (John 9:39, NLT)
As believers, let us find every opportunity to glorify God, let God render judgment as He sees fit (it’s not for us to figure out the “why” behind every situation in the lives of others), and let us walk humbly before God and all people.
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from John 9-10.