John 9 - Does Sinning Cause Blindness?

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Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

As Jesus journeys along, he meets a man blind from birth. In those days according to some Jewish teachers it was a result of sin, either from the man or his family.  They could not reconcile theologically how this could happen to someone. Since it could not be God's fault, it had to be the person's fault. 

Rather than getting into a theological argument, Jesus sees the opportunity to show another sign of his authority as the Son of God. 

"Jesus will soon show a different way. He won’t dwell on the theological puzzle, but on actually helping the man. “It is ours, not to speculate, but to perform acts of mercy and love, according to the tenor of the gospel. Let us then be less inquisitive and more practical, less for cracking doctrinal nuts, and more for bringing forth the bread of life to the starving multitudes.” (Spurgeon)

Interestingly though many doubted the Pool of Siloam existed, in December of 2005 while repairing a sewage pipe the ancient Pool in Jerusalem was discovered.  Here is what an article in the Los Angeles Times says quoting a Princeton professor,

"Now, we have found the Pool of Siloam … exactly where John said it was.’ A Gospel that was thought to be ‘pure theology is now shown to be grounded in history,’ he said” Do we get it? The scholars are wrong—again. The Bible is accurate—always!” 

While there is anything wrong with debates about God or theological matters, many of the things we argue about don't effect anybody's salvation and aren't of paramount importance in the grand scheme of things. We only have so much time here on earth. Like Jesus, we should do the works God has called us to do while it is still light out.  

Where are we tempted to write someone's condition off as their own fault rather than showing them the grace and love of God?