Who Sinned? (John 9:1-3)

Still on hard questions

After a participant's question about why God allows suffering, DeWayne kept going with John 9. Walking past a man blind from birth, the disciples asked who sinned, the man or his parents.

Why they asked

Some rabbis taught that all suffering traced back to sin, even in the womb or through generations. Jesus said neither. This happened so God's works could be displayed, and then He healed the man, who surely never stopped telling people about it.

The potter and the clay

DeWayne compared questioning God to telling a friend how to raise their kids, a sure way to start a fight, even between humans. God is sovereign. Scripture calls Him just, which isn't the same as fair by our standards.

His own why

DeWayne shared that his mother, a woman of deep faith, died early from cancer. He doesn't know why. He suspects that without that loss he might not have read what he's read or be leading this call. One day he'll get to ask.

Try this

• Read all of John 9, including what the healed man says to the religious leaders.
• Write down one "why" and give it to God in prayer.