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Today as one of our readings, we look at John 9: 1-6:

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes,

Today’s passage looks at one that I’ve always liked and can be really informative to our understanding of life and of purpose.  Today we see Jesus and the disciples come upon a man who was born blind and the disciples ask what was to them a simple question. 

Whose fault is this?  Who did something to make this happen?  Is this man blind because of some sin he committed?  Or is he blind because of some sin his parents committed?  Whose fault is this?  

Jesus gives a surprising answer.  

Neither.  He wasn’t blind because of his sin, he wasn’t blind because of the sins of his parents.  His blindness will be used for God’s glory.  

So often in life many of us, or it is for me, feel like when something bad happens, we’ve done something to deserve it. We believe in karma, which is not a Christian concept.  Karma says you will get you what you deserve. Christianity says grace, we don’t what we deserve.  As the Psalmist says in 130 if you, oh Lord, kept a record of iniquities, who could stand?

Whose fault is this?  No ones.  We live in a world that is fallen and because of that, things are not as they should be, or as God perfectly designed them. There is sickness, pain, and death. But we know that when the Lord returns these things will be no more, for he will put an end to all of these things.  They will be no more, and all will be restored as Jesus intended for it to be!  

I’ve said in my sermons on the Apostles’ Creed during Lent that there were five moments that changed everything: creation, the Fall, the cross, the empty grave, and the return. 

In creation, all was made and made good.  In the fall, as was corrupted.  In the cross, the wrath of God was satisfied and we were atoned for.  In the empty grave, death was defeated, and in the return, all will be made right.    

God was not out to get this man.  He was born blind because our world is imperfect. But God was looking to use this man for his good and for God’s glory.  He was going to bring something good out of the brokenness of this man’s life. 

God was going to use this.  

Just like He will use you today. He will use you, and every part of your life and your story today.  Whose fault is this?  No ones.  We live in a broken world. But God is going to use this man. 

Today, God will use you.  He is not out to get you.  He is not against you.  He is for you. And He will use every part of you today if you will allow.  Even the broken, imperfect parts.  God will use all of us today. Today, may we know the power of God to redeem and use all of us.  

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