From why to how

Fourth Sunday in Lent

John 9:1-41

"From Why to How?"

It's an age-old question: Why do bad things happen to good people? In the face of tragedy, senseless violence, or disaster people soon ask: Why did God allow this to happen? If God is all-powerful and good, how could this all-powerful God allow bad things to happen to good people? We conclude that either God must not be all-powerful, or God must not be all good when there are terrible and unjust events that happen to innocent people. We want to know why; why did God allow this to happen? Take the man born blind in the Gospel lesson for today ? blind since birth. Surely the man's parents and relatives must have asked that same question: why did God allow this to happen? Passing by the blind man one day, Jesus? disciples take it a step further, moving from why to who. Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind (John 9:2). In our desire to know why, we very quickly want to assign blame: who is responsible for this? We want to know who is going to be the scapegoat for this tragedy, this violence, this disaster. Jesus' response is very interesting. He tells his disciples: Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him (John 9:3). Jesus moves us away from the why--why did this happen? He also moves us away from the who--who is responsible? Who is to blame? Jesus moves us toward the how--how will God?s works be revealed through what seems to us to be only tragedy and loss? That becomes the theme for today's message under the title, "From Why to How." May God's rich blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word, for Jesus' sake.

I want to share with you today a method for reading Scripture that I learned only within the last month. I think you?ll find, as I did, that this is a very helpful tool. When reading Scripture, ask yourself, What's the GOOD in this passage? The G stands for God: what is this passage saying about God? The O stands for ourselves: what is this passages saying about ourselves? The second O stands for others: what is this passage saying about others? The D stands for do: what is his passage saying that God would have me do? So, what is the GOOD in this passage from John 9 about Jesus' healing of the blind man? Let's look briefly at each of those letters: G-O-O-D.

First off, what is this passage saying about God? Jesus would have us understand one very important thing: that tragedy, violence, and disaster are not punishment from God for our sins. In asking their question, that is what the disciples wanted to know: who was being punished, this man or his parents, for their sins? I cannot tell you how many times people have asked me that same question. It doesn't take long for people to begin thinking that God is somehow punishing them when something bad happens. On the contrary, in Jesus the Son of God, we find healing, new life, and salvation, even as the blind man did. Let?s be clear: there is punishment for sin. That is what the message of the cross is all about. Jesus took upon himself what should have been the punishment and condemnation for our sin. All of this was heaped upon him and nailed with him to the cross. If there is any punishment for sin, Jesus bore that burden for us.

Second, what is this passage saying about ourselves? We are very much like the disciples, probably more than we care to admit. Knowingly or unknowingly, we ask the same question: Who sinned? We want to know who's to blame. We are quick to point the finger at someone else, but slow to see how we ourselves have contributed, directly or indirectly, to the brokenness of our world. In other words, we are stuck at the why or who stage. To become unstuck, to move from why and who to how, we need help. We need our own eyes opened.

Third, what is this passage saying about others? The reaction of others to the blind man having his sight restored runs the gamut from fear to stubborn refusal. The good news of Jesus who brings light and salvation, who opens eyes that are blind is not good news for everyone because not everyone wants to come into the light; not everyone wants their eyes opened. The blind man?s parents were living in the land of fear. They were afraid that if they acknowledged Jesus to be the promised Messiah, the one who opened their son?s eyes, there would be consequences for them. Fear still keeps many from acknowledging Jesus today. Though there is not one single incident in the entire Old Testament of a blind person having his sight restored, the religious leaders are unwilling to acknowledge that this is the work of God. Seeing, they are blind. When others around us are unwilling or afraid to confess Jesus as Lord, may our eyes be open to the truth: the truth that there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Finally, what is this passage saying about what God would have us do? Certainly what God would have us do is to do as the blind man did when his sight was restored. After he was driven out by the religious leaders, Jesus came to him and asked: Do you believe in the Son of Man? He answered, And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him. Jesus said to him, You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he. He said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him (John 9:35-38). That is what God would have us do: believe in Jesus as the One who can open our eyes not just the eyes of our head, but the eyes of our heart, so that we, too, may worship him not only with our lips, but with our lives.

In the face of tragedy or disaster, may our eyes be opened so that our question would not be Why? Why did God allow this to happen? Instead, may our question be How? How will God's works be revealed through this? As we read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest God's works revealed in holy Scripture in the Christ of the Scriptures, may God help us to see the G-O-O-D in those Scriptures, for Jesus? sake. Amen.