Trust God In The DarknessTrust God In The DarknessJohn 9:1-7John 9:1-7

• 1-2, “suffering always implies sin”– Blind man was bornborn w. his affliction,

therefore his motherhis mother may have sinned??

• ““When a pregnant woman worships in When a pregnant woman worships in a pagan temple, her baby participates a pagan temple, her baby participates w. her” w. her”

• Rabbis: children born w. epilepsy or children born w. epilepsy or leprosy suffer because of their parents’ leprosy suffer because of their parents’ sinssins

Rabbis

• LaqishLaqish appealed to Gn.25:22 (Jacob and Esau struggling in Rebekah’s womb): “This one ran round to kill that “This one ran round to kill that one, and the other ran round to kill one, and the other ran round to kill him” him”

• BekehjaBekehja: “When she “When she [Rebekah][Rebekah] walked walked past synagogues and houses of past synagogues and houses of instruction, Jacob struggled to get out. instruction, Jacob struggled to get out. When she passed idol temples Esau When she passed idol temples Esau ran and struggled to get out”ran and struggled to get out”

The truth:The truth:

• In one sense, sin did cause suffering:

– Gn.3, sin introduced suffering Gn.3, sin introduced suffering

– Some sins Some sins do do directly cause directly cause suffering (e.g., drinking)suffering (e.g., drinking)

• Sin does notnot always cause suffering:

– Job Job

– Jn.9Jn.9

Jn.9:3-5• 3, rejects error of rabbis; shows third option• 4, instead of asking how he got that way,

Jesus asks, “What can we do for him?” • 5. Jn.8:12

– Signs make His light shine brighter – Chap.9, what happens when Light shines: Chap.9, what happens when Light shines:

• SomeSome (9:7) are enabled to see • OthersOthers (9:39-41) are blinded by the light

• 6, Jesus, the Light of the worldJesus, the Light of the world

– Proof: gives light to a man in darknessProof: gives light to a man in darkness – Jewish tradition made it illegal to put spit Jewish tradition made it illegal to put spit

on the eyes on the Sabbath day on the eyes on the Sabbath day

• 7, no one asked Jesus to heal this man; He took the initiative – The blind man had to wash

• The common theme in the passage: The common theme in the passage: trusttrust GodGod

II Trust God In SufferingTrust God In Suffering, 1, 1

• He owes us no explanation, and usually gives noneusually gives none

• Job did not know why he was suffering…but he knew that God is God is not:not:

– AsleepAsleep – NearsightedNearsighted– IndifferentIndifferent (Ps.139)

John 11, Lazarus

• Lazarus did not get sick and die because the Lord was indifferent to him, Jn.11:3, 5

• Jesus had a higher purpose for Jesus had a higher purpose for Lazarus – the glory of GodLazarus – the glory of God

• Jn.11:4, 11 – God did not make him sick or kill him God did not make him sick or kill him – He overruled the disease for good and for He overruled the disease for good and for

His gloryHis glory

• Jn.11:6, Jesus delayed…Jn.11:6, Jesus delayed…

LessonsLessons:

1. God does not 1. God does not shieldshield usus from pain from pain

– Lazarus, a friend of the Creatora friend of the Creator, yet . . . – Jesus, the Son of Godthe Son of God, yet . . . (Jn.11:35;

Hb.5:7-9)

2. God does not always immediately2. God does not always immediately rescuerescue usus from pain and suffering from pain and suffering

– Jn.9; Jn.11:15– The gospel is not an insurance policy!The gospel is not an insurance policy!

3. We may 3. We may glorifyglorify GodGod in pain in pain

IIII Trust God In Secret ThingsTrust God In Secret Things, 2-3, 2-3

• Dt.29:29; Is.55:10-11

• All data must be interpretedinterpreted– EvolutionistsEvolutionists– Job’s friendsJob’s friends – Jews speculatedJews speculated

• “Where there is more than ordinary suffering, there must be more than ordinary sin”

– Jesus correctedJesus corrected… “Neither . . . nor…”

LessonsLessons:

1.1. Wait for Wait for God’sGod’s explanation explanation

– Habakkuk

2. Remember: God makes no mistakes2. Remember: God makes no mistakes

– Gn.18:25

3. God can use evil to advance His work. 3. God can use evil to advance His work. Ac.2:22-24

– Issue is not where suffering comes from, but what we do w. it

IIIIII Trust God In ServiceTrust God In Service, 4-5, 4-5

• Some turn from God because of…– SufferingSuffering – Hard sayingsHard sayings (Jn.6:66) – ProblemsProblems

• Jn.9:4-5– Night–LightNight–Light

Jn.9:4Jn.9:4

1.1. We share w. Jesus the responsibility We share w. Jesus the responsibility of doing what God saysof doing what God says

2.2. A moral necessityA moral necessity

3.3. We have limited time to do His workWe have limited time to do His work

4.4. Night is comingNight is coming

IVIV Trust God In SalvationTrust God In Salvation, 6-7, 6-7

• Jesus spat...made clay w. saliva

• This wasThis was – – 1.1. OffensiveOffensive. 1 Co.1:21

2.2. InadequateInadequate. 1 Co.1:22 – Can the pool of Siloam cure blindness?

– The smaller the means, the greater the display of God’s power

3. 3. HarmfulHarmful. 1 Co.1:23

The means had no The means had no value of its ownvalue of its own

• It seemed to It seemed to hinderhinder, , notnot assistassist

• The Lord often uses the most unlikely The Lord often uses the most unlikely instruments to achieve His purposesinstruments to achieve His purposes

1. Josh.6, marchingmarching

2. 2 K.5, dipping seven timesdipping seven times

3. Jn.9, washing washing . . . [Jn.9:39-41]

4. Ac.2:38, baptism for forgivenessbaptism for forgiveness