Jesus’ disciples assumed that the blind man was blind because of some sin, either his own sin or his parents’ sin. You would have thought that the book of Job (the story of a righteous man who suffers inexplicably but who ultimately brings great glory to God through his suffering) would have driven this simplistic explanation out of their minds. Human beings, however, like to think they have the answers for everything. Jesus rejects their assumptions. This man had a purpose in the scheme of God and God would be glorified in him. No further explanation is given or required. This is really the ultimate purpose of all our lives: to display the glory and goodness of God. God can be glorified in misfortune, and often it takes some misfortune for us to gain enough weakness to be able to display the power and glory of God. This man was blind and yet, as a result, he was in a position to encounter the power of Christ. Jesus reveals his true identity to this man personally, something he did for very few. Jesus had said that the way to life was narrow and few find it (Matthew 7:14). The blind man was one of the few. He found life because of his blindness. This didn’t make his blindness good, nor does it suffice as a reason for his blindness. But it certainly transformed his blindness from a curse into a blessing.
Ask God to lead you into a deeper encounter with Jesus whatever that might take.
Read John 9:1-41
