Jesus' Response

The connection of suffering with grace.

Have you ever stopped to notice the connection between God’s grace and those in suffering? As you read through Scripture do you notice some things about God’s character because of the stories of suffering and evil in the world?

Exodus 3:7 NIV

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.

God hears and sees us in our suffering.

This is not something we ever go alone with. Though, I must admit sometimes I have felt God was silent because of my suffering.

In the movie, Avatar, the greeting for many interactions is “I see you”.

We ask “why”, Jesus says “watch this”!

We ask who is at fault. What is the true cause of this. Sometimes this becomes all that we care about. We are allowed and sometimes must ask why. Joseph did this in the Egyptian prison, more on that in a couple weeks. Job did this as we looked at things last week. Jesus will do this in the Garden of Gethsemene.

The Gospel of John: A Commentary 9:1–2. Jesus Notices the Unsightly

it is best for mortals to leave cause and effect in the realm of mystery and to the Last Judgment, as Jesus does most often in his treatment of cases and persons.

Where we put a question mark, God wants a comma!

Jesus brings light into chaos.

Can you hear the rumbles of the beginning of Scripture? Can you hear the echos of time before when beauty came from darkness?

We theologize when we should work.

We want to understand Scripture when sometimes this gets in the way of doing the mission Christ has sent us to do.

Sometimes we are so concerned with “right theology” that we start to alienate those in need of God’s grace.

God’s grace is for ALL!

Notice that the man’s faith is never questioned before he is healed. Notice that Jesus doesn’t wait until someone gets it “right” or “get’s cleaned up” before he starts working. Yes, sometimes the healing happens because of faith.

We are to be on mission.

The whole story is about being “sent”.

Are you blind?

Am I blind to the suffering and pain in this world? Yes, we all know what is wrong with the world, just turn on the news. But I mean the individual and personal pain and suffering of others. Do you SEE them? Are you blind because of the pain and suffering in this world? Are you blind because of our “right and correct and biblical beliefs?”

Jesus is the Light!

Jesus is the light you and I need.