12/13/16
The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
In John 9:1-7 we face a problem which is always troublesome. Something is wrong. Whose fault is it? In this instance, the wrong is that a man has been blind since he was born. The question? Who sinned and caused him to be born blind?
We do not want any misunderstanding here. The man was blind and that was a hardship. All illness and disability is bad. There is no situation in which we say it is a good thing that someone should not have normal human functionality. It is bad that the man was born blind.
Whose fault is it? We are so very ready to assign blame for anything which is wrong. We expect our world to work in straightforward linear ways. Is there something wrong? It was caused by someone. Is the man blind? Someone must have sinned to cause it. in real life we are very hesitant to say that things “just happen.” There are always additional variables. We can’t know them all. Maybe there is a cause of this man’s disability.
Jesus chooses not to answer this question. He also has nothing to say about the many other people who are suffering from disabilities. He simply addresses this one individual. What does he do? He brings healing.
The disciples had asked about the man’s trouble. Jesus said it was so that God’s glory would be shown. That is actually the answer in all our life’s situations. Whether blind or seeing, whether deaf or hearing, whether sick or well, poor or rich, all our lives can show God’s glory.
How would the Lord show his glory through me at this time? How can I work effectively in the various vocations He has given me? How can I love and serve my neighbor? How can I be an instrument of God’s light, his grace, his kindness? Whether I deserve it or not, Lord, let me use this situation I am in for your glory.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
In John 9:1-7 we face a problem which is always troublesome. Something is wrong. Whose fault is it? In this instance, the wrong is that a man has been blind since he was born. The question? Who sinned and caused him to be born blind?
We do not want any misunderstanding here. The man was blind and that was a hardship. All illness and disability is bad. There is no situation in which we say it is a good thing that someone should not have normal human functionality. It is bad that the man was born blind.
Whose fault is it? We are so very ready to assign blame for anything which is wrong. We expect our world to work in straightforward linear ways. Is there something wrong? It was caused by someone. Is the man blind? Someone must have sinned to cause it. in real life we are very hesitant to say that things “just happen.” There are always additional variables. We can’t know them all. Maybe there is a cause of this man’s disability.
Jesus chooses not to answer this question. He also has nothing to say about the many other people who are suffering from disabilities. He simply addresses this one individual. What does he do? He brings healing.
The disciples had asked about the man’s trouble. Jesus said it was so that God’s glory would be shown. That is actually the answer in all our life’s situations. Whether blind or seeing, whether deaf or hearing, whether sick or well, poor or rich, all our lives can show God’s glory.
How would the Lord show his glory through me at this time? How can I work effectively in the various vocations He has given me? How can I love and serve my neighbor? How can I be an instrument of God’s light, his grace, his kindness? Whether I deserve it or not, Lord, let me use this situation I am in for your glory.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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