Saturday 17 January, 2015

9 As Jesus went along, he saw a man who was blind. He had been blind since he was born. 2 Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned? Was this man born blind because he sinned? Or did his parents sin?” 3 “It isn’t because this man sinned,” said Jesus. “It isn’t because his parents sinned. He was born blind so that God’s power could be shown by what’s going to happen. 4 While it is still day, we must do the works of the one who sent me. Night is coming. Then no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 After he said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud with the spit. Then he put the mud on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him. “Wash in the Pool of Siloam.” Siloam means Sent. So the man went and washed. And he came home able to see. 8 His neighbors and people who had seen him earlier begging asked questions. “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” they asked. 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No. He only looks like him.” But the man who had been blind kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 “Then how were your eyes opened?” they asked. 11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed. Then I could see.” 12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.

In this passage we hear how Jesus reminded His disciples that there is way more going on in God’s plans for the planet than we can possibly imagine. Here the disciples made an assumption that the man was blind because of something he had done or that his parents had done. Jesus points out that they needed to expand the picture they had of why situations arise. This situation had arisen in this man’s life to allow Jesus to show God’s power.

We need to be so careful when we make assumptions about why something is happening in our lives or in those around us. God is able to coordinate a much bigger picture than we can ever imagine. We need to ask God rather than assume we know why something is happening. Ask God and ask wise people God has put into your life about tricky situations. Don’t assume your interpretation is the only explanation. Ask God to expand your view of the world.

Thanks so much Lord that You are so much more wise than we are and able to understand much more complex situations than we can. Help us to remember to ask You for Your view of situations we find ourselves in. Also help us to remember the drivers behind Your plans – Your love for each and every one of us.

Written by Therese Manning