In my quiet time this morning, I read from John 9. Immediately, verses 1-3 captured my attention. As I reflected on these verses, the old saying “things aren’t aIways what they seem” came to my mind. I was encouraged, and realized that this is one of the things that I need to remember in my daily walk with Christ.
“As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And 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.”
– John 9:1-3
In reading chapter 9, you’ll find that verses 1-7 set up the circumstance (healing a blind man) that unpacks the fuller meaning of “things are not always as they seem” based on the varying responses to what Jesus did. But I’m going to limit this article to Jesus’ opening statement because it is enlightening in itself.
Verse 1 begins where Jesus just happens to walk by a blind man. Now, let’s pause right there. Do you really think that anything “just happens” to Jesus? Or to any of us, for that matter? The Bible is filled with stories that, from a human perspective, appear to have “just happened.” However, a deeper study of the scriptures reveals that nothing happens outside the sovereign will of God. NOTHING. And, for the Christian, God is especially benevolent in that He causes ALL things to work together for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28). So, no, Jesus didn’t “just happen” to walk by this blind man. Rather, we see the purpose for why this happens by considering the question by the disciples and Jesus’ answer in verses 2-3.
The disciples ask Jesus if the reason this man was blind was because he sinned or his parents? There was a common belief in ancient Judaism that sickness was a direct result of sin in a person’s life, or their parents, therefore, it must be a punishment from God. To the disciples, this is “the way things seem”, when in reality, it revealed an incorrect knowledge of God.
While this “false belief” is not something we teach in our modern church (because it is biblically unsupported), it is often the very first thing that people think of when they receive bad news. When someone receives a diagnosis of a life-altering incident (ie. heart attack) or disease (ie. cancer), their first thought is often, “What did I do wrong? Am I being punished for something?” It is a natural response for humans, especially the unsaved, that is generated by fear. Again, among many it is widely considered “the way things seem” ( Prov 14:12). The underlying fear for the unsaved is that (if God exists) he must be vindictive and malevolent, who takes vengeance for our sins. Even for the Christian, who has already experienced God’s love toward us in salvation, we still fear that God might be disciplining us for doing something wrong.
But Jesus redirects the disciple’s thinking by revealing to them there’s more going on here than what it seems to be. Jesus says that it’s not because of sin that this man is blind, but so that the works of God might be displayed in him. The focus is not “sin,” it is the “works of God.” The purpose of the man’s blindness was so that the presence, power, and goodness of God would be demonstrated upon him by Jesus and subsequently celebrated by people. People would see that God’s present desire is not vengeance for sin (the time of judgment comes later) but goodness towards those who seek him in faith. The man’s suffering is transformed into goodness towards him and glory towards God.
Let’s apply this to our modern day. As Christians, we know that our suffering is allowed by God, but we must believe that it is not without purpose. God’s goodness to us is tied to the glory he receives for himself (not that he needs us to receive glory – Luke 19:40). As God cares for his children, his attributes of being a faithful and good Father (James 1:17, Isaiah 64:8) are on full display to the people around us, and he receives the attention and praise from those who recognize him and his good works. Our suffering maximizes both his goodness and his glory.
Therefore, be encouraged my Christian friends as I am today. Things are not always what they seem… not when you are a son or daughter of the Most High King. It may seem that things are not going well or in the right direction. It may seem that things have really come off the tracks in the most tragic ways. But the promises of goodness for his glory are heading your way, and you will have them for eternity.