Day 40

Jesus returned to Galilee, continued to train His apostles, and prepared the next group of disciples whom He would soon send out on their first mission trip. But there is another feast, the Feast of Dedication or Lights. This is not an Old Testament feast, but a new one added several years before Jesus arrived. This was in honor of the miracle when God supernaturally provided light in the lamps when there was not enough oil to keep them burning when the temple was taken back during the Jewish Maccabees’ revolt under the leadership of Judas Maccabees. What will happen on this trip to Jerusalem?

Read John 9:1-41.

What would it be like to be blind from birth? As a blind person, what would it be like to hear this conversation near you?

Trace the progression of the blind man receiving sight.

V.1

v.11

v. 17

v. 27

v. 33

v. 38

Trace the progress of the Pharisees becoming blind.

v. 15

vs. 16

v. 24

v.28-29

v. 34

v. 39

What lessons can we learn from this story?


As Jesus is on His way to the Feast of Lights with many disciples, they pass by a man they later discover was blind from birth. It was the belief at that time that if someone was suffering, it was because they or someone close to them had sinned. This is still a commonly held belief worldwide and in the Christian Church. Most of us have grown up with the teaching that suffering and poverty are always due to poor choices one makes in life and the fault of one’s inability to get motivated and go to work. While it is true that we all can experience suffering and poverty because of our bad choices, there are other reasons why God lets us go through suffering. If you have not been in a season of suffering or poverty, you will be at some point in your life. It’s not always because of your lack of motivation- not always because of sin. It’s simply part of the human experience. Sometimes there is suffering.

I can understand suffering for bad choices, but what about when you suffer innocently? What then? Why do good people suffer through hard times that are not deserved? Why are babies born blind? Why do innocent children suffer at the hands of abusive parents? Jesus answers these questions in this passage, but be warned– it may seriously change your viewpoint and cause you to wrestle with the justice issues in your life.

The disciples questioned Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2). They knew sin caused suffering in people’s lives. What is shocking is Jesus’ response to their question by saying that “neither this man nor his parents sinned” (John 9:3). Sometimes people suffer for reasons other than poor choices and the sin of others. Jesus says this man was born blind just “so that the work of God might be displayed in his life” (John 9:3). In other words, this thirty-something-year-old man was born blind so that, on this day, Jesus could walk by and declare himself to be the Light of the World and open his eyes to the glory of the Father. It is so hard to get my mind around this concept that God would allow someone to suffer so that He might be glorified. I am so me-centered that I think the world revolves around my family, friends, and me. I struggle to understand how a good God would allow evil and suffering to exist. The problem is not God’s; the problem is mine. I think God exists for me when, in reality, I exist for Him. He is the center, not me. What is happening in our world will ultimately bring Him honor and glory because it is all about Him and not me. I want it to be about me, but the truth is that no matter how much I try to make it about me, it is still about Him. He alone sits enthroned on high (Ps.113:5).

My world says that poor people are cursed and that poverty is something to avoid at all costs. Yet, Jesus says blessed are the poor (Luke 6:20) and that all those who live godly lives in Christ Jesus will suffer (2Tim. 3:12). poverty and suffering come into our lives so that God will ultimately get the glory as He saves the day. How could he be the Savior that He is if we did not need Him to save the day? Poverty and suffering come into the life of a disciple because they are tools in the hand of the Father to conform me into the image of Jesus (Rom. 8:29). Another leadership lesson is to be careful about judging why someone is suffering. It could be that they have not sinned, made a wrong choice, or failed to look ahead- it may just be that they suffer so that God will get the glory when he delivers them from their suffering.

These are harsh truths, I know. I find it hard to accept that the world does not revolve around me and that I do not control my environment. I cannot eliminate all the suffering of those around me. If I could eliminate hunger and world suffering, I would do it instantly. I hate seeing people suffer. But I know that God has a purpose for our suffering. It is to make us more like Jesus.

Hebrews 5:8 shows us that there is a purpose to suffering. Ask God to open your eyes to His plans and His ways. Be careful not to sit in the seat of judgment, looking at others’ suffering. God is the only one who sees all and knows all. He alone can judge what is just and unjust.  

How does this change your view of suffering? Of yourself? of others?