Todays Daily Devotions
"It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins . . . He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him."
— John 9:3
The Tsunami that hit Southeast Asia on December 26, 2004 is one of the most horrific natural disasters in recorded history. In times like these, the question often asked is, "Why?" More specifically, "Why did God let this happen?"
The disciples asked Jesus a similar question in John 9. After seeing a man who had been blind from birth, the disciples asked one of the big questions in life, "Why?" They asked, " 'Why was this man born blind? Was it a result of his own sins or those of his parents?' " (v. 2).
But Jesus dismissed the idea out of hand, saying, " 'It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins . . . He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him' " (v. 3).
So why was this man in the condition that he was in? Even more so, why is there suffering and natural disasters like the tsunami that killed over 150,000 people in at least 11 countries in Southeast Asia? Why do we have war, and terrorism, and tragedy?
First of all, this man's blindness was not a result of personal sin. His blindness was the result of sin in general. For that matter, natural disasters, disease, and suffering are the result of sin in general. God told our first parents, Adam and Eve, that if they eat of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden they would surely die (see Genesis 2:17). Despite God's warnings, they ate of it. Since that moment, death has spread through the human race like wildfire. But God has offered a solution to death through His Son Jesus Christ. God loves us so much that He reached out to us by sending His own son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to die for our sins.
The disciples asked Jesus a similar question in John 9. After seeing a man who had been blind from birth, the disciples asked one of the big questions in life, "Why?" They asked, " 'Why was this man born blind? Was it a result of his own sins or those of his parents?' " (v. 2).
But Jesus dismissed the idea out of hand, saying, " 'It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins . . . He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him' " (v. 3).
So why was this man in the condition that he was in? Even more so, why is there suffering and natural disasters like the tsunami that killed over 150,000 people in at least 11 countries in Southeast Asia? Why do we have war, and terrorism, and tragedy?
First of all, this man's blindness was not a result of personal sin. His blindness was the result of sin in general. For that matter, natural disasters, disease, and suffering are the result of sin in general. God told our first parents, Adam and Eve, that if they eat of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden they would surely die (see Genesis 2:17). Despite God's warnings, they ate of it. Since that moment, death has spread through the human race like wildfire. But God has offered a solution to death through His Son Jesus Christ. God loves us so much that He reached out to us by sending His own son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to die for our sins.
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