Thursday, May 17

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2018

"As Jesus went along, he saw a man blind from birth.  His disxiples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'

"'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.  As long as it is dau, we must do the work of him who sent me.  Night is coming, when no one can work.  While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.'" (John 9:1-5)

In today's reading, we find a complete account of a great miracle, the healing of the man born blind.  Apart from Jesus's intervention, this man's blindness would not have been cured.  Yet, God does intervene in the lives of His children and does being great healing.  To Him belongs all glory and honor for His miracles!

As the account begins, Jesus's disciples ask the curious question of who bore the responsibility for this man's blindness.  This attitude seems parallel to that shown in Job, where Job's friends struggle to understand the root cause of Job's suffering.  Even today, we often look to blame others or ourselves for the misfortune that we face.  This culture of blame causes us to hide our weaknesses for fear of being judged as weak.  As we suffer quietly, we become isolated and hopeless.

"... But this happened that the work of God might be displayed in his life."  Jesus turns the blame game on its head, suggesting that the blindness—and its healing—would ultimately testify to God's goodness.  As the Jewish leaders wrestled with this clear miracle, the man points to Jesus's power to heal as evidence of His being sent from the Father.  The leaders can't dispute the reality of the healing; instead, they begin attacking Jesus's authority and that of this healed man.  Yet, the work of God stands on its own and brings Him glory!

In light of this account, how could you consider your own weaknesses and misfortunes as opportunities for the work of God to be displayed in your life?

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9,10:  "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Could your weakness today be just the venue for showing Christ's power?

Lord God, thank You for Your intervention in our lives and displaying Your power in our weakness.  Give us pure hearts and help us not to judge others who are struggling.  Give us faith to believe      in Your power and grace, both in our lives and in those of others.  We invite You to display Your power in our lives today!  In Jesus's Name, amen.