Daily Devotions
John
A dangerously flawed approach
Text: John 9 : 1 - 7
A DANGEROUSLY FLAWED APPROACH
The Jews would have concluded that the man born blind had somehow sinned (John 9:34). The Disciples were also inclined to this position. The only other alternative was that his parents sinned! What other possible conclusion could there be? Once again, Jesus surprised them.
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned…”
John 9:3a
The approach of blaming everything upon sin is dangerously flawed.
1. It makes sin the only causative factor to be reckoned with.
2 It overlooks other possibilities.
3. It limits God.
4. Worse, it makes God appear wicked and merciless!
A COMPLETELY “NEW” APPROACH
Jesus’ proposed approach was truly profound. He suggested that there was another way of looking at things. God’s Divine perspective must be considered.
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,
but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”
John 9:3
The theme, “The works of God” was the new perspective that Jesus introduced. This theme was valid. How could the Jews fail to see “The works of God”? One of the didactic Psalms dealt with this very theme.
“For He established a testimony in Jacob
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers……That they may arise and declare them to their children,
That they may set their hope in God,
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments.”
Psalm 78:5-7
God was not limited by man’s imagination. Neither was He limited by man’s sinfulness. The Jews should have known their history. God had intervened again and again and rescued the nation from disastrous situations! The Jews, like ancient Israel
“…forgot His works and His wonders
that He had shown them.”In spite of this they still sinned,
And did not believe in His wondrous works.”
Psalm 78:11, 32
How does one apply that approach in reality? It is one thing to speak of a different approach, but quite another to demonstrate it. Jesus Himself was the new approach, actually. He knew the will of God. He knew the plans of God. He knew the works of God. He knew that God’s mighty work was going to be revealed in the healing of this blind man!
DOING THE WORKS OF GOD
Before He healed the man born blind, Jesus said some very significant words.
“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while
it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”
John 9:4
The Jews were unable to bring about the healing of the man born blind. The Disciples could only discuss the plight of the blind man theoretically. No one could advance a solution to the dilemma.
Jesus suggested a new approach and now He was going to demonstrate what that was. There were certain works that God His Father had given Him to do. He must fulfill all that His Father had commanded Him. He must work with an even greater sense of urgency now, “while it is day”. All too soon, “the night” was coming. No work could be done when night came.
How mystified the people must have been when they heard these words! What did Jesus mean? What were these “works of God”?
Jesus then went on to explain Himself further.
“As long as I am in the world, I am
the light of the world.”
John 9:5
A person who is blind lived in absolute darkness. He may feel the heat from the sun, but he would not be able to see the light shed by the sun. That was the natural order of things. But Jesus was “the Light of the world”. He could bring light to a darkened world. He could bring sight to a blind man! If He was indeed “the Light of the world” who was He in actual fact?
Did The Jews know of this portion of Scripture that spoke about how God would lead the blind?
“I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;
I will lead them in paths they have not known.
I will make darkness light before them,
And crooked places straight.
These things I will do for them,
And not forsake them.”
Isaiah 42:16
God did not abandon the blind! He did not relegate their plight to mere theoretical discourses entered into by the public. He was going to lead them in paths they had not known. He was going to do a new thing for them. The Person who would perform these works of God was none other than the Messiah Himself.