That The Works of God Might Be Displayed

At one point, as they were walking together with the Lord, the disciples took the opportunity to ask a question they had and one which is often asked today. “Why are certain people struck down with bad breaks?” We hear of children with dreadful diseases and are reminded that life in this age is not fair. We all know committed Christian families that seem to have to endure a continual string of mishaps, misfortunes and ill health. We may not ask it aloud, but the thought often enters our minds, “What did they do to deserve this?”

In the Gospel of John, chapter 9, Jesus and His disciples pass a man blind from birth and the disciples ask: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?” The thought being that someone must have done something wrong to cause this blindness to happen. They may well have had Ex 20:5 in mind where God says, “I the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children” figuring the man was born blind because of his parent’s sin. Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him.“ Moments later, Jesus makes a mud pie with His spittle, puts it on the eyes of the blind man and directs him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam and the man receives his sight. The question for consideration is this, Is Jesus’ answer addressing this man’s condition alone, or was He answering the greater question of “Why does God allow bad things to happen, such as some being born blind at birth?”

In the short-term, we certainly see the “works of God displayed” in this man and so Jesus’ answer is applicable to the blind man. However, instead of seeing the answer through the prism of our very finite, short, human experience where James says, “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). If we consider the answer through the prism of eternity and the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom of God, we see a far more glorious application of Jesus’ answer. Through the “Good Tidings” of the kingdom of God we see this as a singular example of what God will do for 20 plus billion “prisoners” of sin and death during Christ’s millennial reign when “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped; then the lame will leap like a deer and the tongue of the dumb will shout for joy” (Isaiah 35:5, 6a). The time when, “all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice and shall come forth” (John 5:28, 29) and be directed to the “pool of Siloam” (meaning Sent) to the Lord Jesus Christ to receive sight.

Through the prism of eternity and the kingdom of God we see that the ravages of sin upon mankind is allowed for a time as man learns “the exceeding sinfulness of sin.” Soon the works of God will be displayed when God’s will is done on earth as it is now done in heaven. Indeed Jesus addresses much more than a single blind man’s condition and shows forth one example of the marvelous, eternal plans and purposes of God in Christ Jesus.

B. Blake

How God’s children can manifest His Grace

Affliction, sorrow, pain, disappointment, loss are always great opportunities for displaying God’s grace. First, it enables the sufferer to show God in action. When trouble and disaster fall upon one who does not know God, that one may well collapse; but when they fall on one who walks with God they bring out the strength and the beauty, the endurance and the nobility, which are within one’s heart when God is there. Any kind of suffering is an opportunity to demonstrate the glory of God in our own lives. Second, by helping those who are in trouble or in pain, we can demonstrate to others the glory of God…To help another in need is to manifest the glory of God, for it is to show what God is like.

William Barclay

O, to be like Thee! Full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wandering sinner to find!

O, to be like Thee! Lowly in Spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer others to save.

O, to be like Thee! O, to be like Thee,

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art!

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image, deep on my heart.

Thomas Chisholm