Contending With An Almighty God

Posted by Wade Lowrey on May 13, 2010 in Bible Study, Christian Reflections |

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John 9:1-7

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. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” So he went and washed and came back seeing.

There are certain sides of Jesus that I gravitate more easily towards at times. There are sayings of Jesus throughout the Gospels that are easier for more to follow than others. It is so easy to go through the Gospels and pick out the things I like best about Jesus and say this is the Jesus that I follow. To take that one-step further it is easy as a preacher and a teacher to only preach and teach the things that I like, things that seem politically correct, and make everyone feel great.

But since my orthodox faith believes that Jesus is both All-Powerful, Creator, and Sustainer of all things I cannot only focus on my favorite version of Jesus. I believe the Bible is the Word of God and cannot pick and choose.

This means I follow and submit to all the teachings of Christ even when Jesus makes me uncomfortable.

John Chapter 9 is one of these occasions. The disciples ask a simple question. The question is simply as they walk by a man born blind, who sinned this man or his parents to cause him to be born blind? It is an honest question. All of us need an answer for things that seem unnatural or confusing to us. Most of us want the simpliest answer when it comes to explaining suffering.

But the answer Jesus gives not only is not a simple answer but it makes me very uncomfortable and contend with an Almighty God. While the disciples are trying to comprehend all that Christ is saying Jesus begins to heal this man born blind. In fact, he makes it obvious to everyone who He really is in this moment. John 9 deals with Jesus angering the Pharisees about working and healing on the Sabbath. Jesus spits on the ground and makes mud to place on the blind man’s eyes. Jesus is trying to ruffle some Pharisee’s feathers at this point.

But He heals this blind man and all the while the disciples are left wrestling with the divine words of Jesus. Here is the answer Jesus gives, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him” (v.3).

That is a shocking statement and leaves me wrestling with a difficult understanding of God to wrap myself around.

According to John 9, it is Jesus (who is the Creator) who caused this man to be born blind in order that He could display His powerful works in Him, which is to heal him from blindness. The disciples are left with an answer that makes them wrestle with an Almighty God who does whatever He pleases, whenever He pleases, and however He pleases.

Just as the disciples wrestled with that answer so do I and as the disciples I accept and embrace this All-Powerful and Sovereign God. That teaching that Jesus was wanting His disciples to learn as well as us is that God causes and uses our infirmity to display His incredible power. Also, God does not ask for my opinion on the subject or seek my approval. He does not apologize as well. But a day will come when He will say to me, “Go Wash!”

Contending with an Almighty God and coming to a place of both worship and devotion towards Christ often takes just as big of a miracle as the one that took place for the man born blind.

Lord Jesus, Thank You for all that you are!

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