Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? | John 9:1-12

INTRODUCTION

TENSION

One of the biggest questions I get is “Why do bad things happen to good people.” and “why do good things happen to bad people?”

CONTEXT

Jesus just said I AM, they were trying to kill him. As he slips out. Literally running for his life, he stops and sees someone who needs him. We see the love of Christ for the least of these.

So God can work through it.

John 9:1–2 ESV

1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Blind from birth

Disciples - his followers.

Rabbi - teacher.

Who sinned - not if, but who.

this man or his parents

that - purpose clause.

Born blind.

Maybe they knew something biologically: greatest form of blindness is Gonorrhea. 90% born blind from std (check). So maybe they knew so the prostitutes kids were more likely to be born blind.

But there was probably something deeper: Therapeutic moralistic deism. - basically karma

This is how we still view things.

Generational curses .

John 9:3 ESV

3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

It was not that this man sinned, or his parents - He is not saying that are sinless, but rather they did not commit a sin that caused it.

Not all suffering is caused by sin, but all sin causes suffering.

That - purpose clause, works of God might be displayed in Him - So why was he born blind? So that God could perform a miracle.

They were looking back for a cause, Jesus wanted them to look forward to a provision.

Because God’s power shines brightest in the dark.

John 9:4–5 ESV

4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

We - he includes us.

must work the works of him - We must do the work of God. He invites us into this story.

While it is still day, night is coming - (getting dark story) Probably was light, would have been mean to heal a blind guy in the dark.

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. - It seems like that Jesus left it is to late.

We are still here to work.

Because it’s an opportunity to trust Jesus more.

John 9:6–7 ESV

6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

He spit - gross. Why? He could have used his words.

Later we find that this is on a Sabbath. They added a rule saying you could not kneed dough. This would have been included. Jesus seems to do just to confront the leaders.

made mud with saliva - seems like that would take a good amount of spit.

anointed - notice that word. Significant word. He did it with a purpose. He anointed what was broken and what was about to be restored. You would think it would have been restored some other way.

Not Christ - but it would still speka to rubbing on something for a purpose.

Notice, there was no discussion before this. He just comes up and says it. (Mark 7 and 8)

Go, wash in the pool of Siloam - Now normally not a big deal, but we have a blind man with mud over his eyes. Going 500 yards through a crowded city.

Siloam - pool from a nature spring that rerouted into the city. The sent one sent him to the pool of being sent.

Now generally when someone spit on you, you would be considered unclean. It wasn’t sinful, but it couldn’t be unclean.

Washed and came back seeing - We don’t know when he actually received his sight. He presumably got it while washing. Some people think he got in when Jesus put mud on then had him walk as an act of obedience.

But this gave the oppurtunity to obey God. Ultimately, we don’t know why, and oftentimes we will never know why bad things happen, but we are called to obey regardless.

Because others get to see God move.

John 9:8–9 ESV

8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.”

Hilarious - They say hey, he kinda looks like that blind guy.

sit and beg- they didn’t know his name.

He is probably like I was blind not deaf, I can hear you.

kept saying, I am the man! - They are like , nah. You aren’t thought.

John 9:10–12 ESV

10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

CONCLUSION

No such people as good. Only person good was Jesus and we killed him. When you realize how sinful you are you will no longer ask why has God used

Job????

rain falls on the righteous adn wicked - rain was good.

Turn you eyes, helen lemmel - hellen Keller, the first face I will get to see is Jesus

No one is able to give more glory than someone who went through it and got out and giveing God glory.

No one stopped and celebrated.

he was in the right place at the right time.

double miralce - not only have his eyes open, but he could see.

Our God and God of our ancestors:

Remember Abraham who flowed to You like water.

You blessed him like a tree planted by streams of water.

You rescued him from fire and water.

He passed Your test by planting good deeds by every source of water.

For Abraham’s sake, do not keep back water.

Remember Isaac, whose birth was foretold when Abraham offered the angels a little water.

You asked his father to spill his blood like water.

In the desert Isaac dug and found wells of water.

For Isaac’s sake, do not keep back water.

Remember Jacob, who crossed the Jordan’s water.

He bravely rolled the stone off the mouth of the well of water.

He wrestled with an angel made of fire and water,

And therefore You promised to be with him through fire and water.

For Jacob’s sake do not keep back water.

Remember Moses, who was drawn in a reed basket out of the Nile’s water.

Who helped Jethro’s daughters: He drew water and gave the sheep water.

He struck the rock and out came water.

For Moses’ sake do not hold back water!

Remember Aaron, the High Priest, who, on Yom Kippur, washed himself five times with water,

He prayed and was sprinkled with purifying water,

He kept apart from a people who were as unstable as water.

For Aaron’s sake do not hold back water.

Remember the Twelve Tribes whom

You brought through the divided waters;

For whom You sweetened bitter water;

Their descendants’ blood was spilled like water.

Turn to us, God, who are surrounded by troubles like water.

For the Jewish people’s sake, do not hold back water.

You are Adonai, our God

Who causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall.

For blessing and not for curse. Amen.

For life and not for death. Amen.

For plenty and not for lack. Amen.

blind at dark joke

Levi - angry he couldnt eat crayons, angry I didn’t get promotion

thankful for when my car starys

Ben spit vs my spit.