Yesterday IBRA set John 9:1-17 as its daily reading as part of its theme of 'suffering.' John 9, for those whose memory it has slipped, is the story of the man born blind whom Jesus healed by sending him to Siloam and who was subsequently ejected from the synagogue; the story of a man who moved from seeing Jesus as a 'man' to a 'prophet' to 'messiah.' I well recall working with this passage in an NT class and exploring theories that it reflected the experiences of a postulated Johannine community or early church. I have preached on the man's 'faith journey' and how we shouldn't expect people instantly to name Jesus as Lord. But I have always struggled with the first few verses...
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth.
His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. John 9:1 - 3 NRSV
The ancient worldview seemingly equated sickness and disability (and 'bad things' in general) to sin, either personal or parental. The question asked by the disciples is therefore a fair one... why was this man born blind? There may be some philosophy going on... can a birth defect pre-empt personal sin? There may be a justice question... why should this man suffer as a punishment for his parents' sin? The first part of Jesus' answer, the part we latch onto, is radical - this birth defect has nothing to do with sin by the man or his parents. Separating suffering in a disordered world from personal sin was, and is, dramatic. Even today people ask themselves "what have I done to cause this?" The answer "nothing" is vital in helping people cope.
It is the second part of the answer that has always bothered me, and which I have never found anyone handle helpfully (including both sets of notes yesterday): it occurred "... so that God's works might be revealed in him." This reads as if the man is a mere pawn in some divine show of strength. Put crudely, "this man has suffered all his life just so that God can show how powerful He is." Nah, not buying that, sorry. What kind of a God is that? And what does it say to people whose children are born with awful defects or to people who become ill? It's OK you are a tool for God to use...? Not a helpful image of God I'm afraid.
I found one hint of redemption for these opening verses in one of the IBRA sets of notes which observed the frequent use of the word 'send' and 'sent' in the story. Apostle - one who is sent - has the same linguistic root. The man to whom these things happened became in a way an apostle, or certainly a witness, to what he had experienced in Jesus. That doesn't make it alright that he was born blind, doesn't make it right that he become a pawn in a divine show of strength, but it does allow the story to make a bit more sense.
Suppose I re-write the verses...
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth.
His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents did anything to cause this, it is just 'one of those things'; but even though he was born blind God's works might be revealed in him, showing that he is not forsaken, and he will be a witness for me.
It's still not entirely satisfactory, the man is still left a bit pawn-like but it's better.
And so I come to my own story and try to place myself in the shoes of the blind man...
As he walked along, he saw a woman with breast cancer.
His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this woman or her parents, that this occurred?"
Jesus answered, "Neither this woman nor her parents sinned, it is just 'one of those things' in a damaged and disordered world. Yet within it all, God is present giving skill to medical professionals, hearing the prayers of those who love her, giving her courage and strength to carry on. And, God willing, she will be one of my sent-ones, telling her faith story to others.
Let's not dimish suffering with trite and ill-considered theology that says it is somehow God's purpose or punishment, heaping guilt on those who cannot experience it as such. Rather let's be willing to accept we may never know 'why' and focus instead on walking together, with God, through the dark valleys.
And a 'hmm' moment... PAYG this morning was Mark 3 calling of the twelve... I intuitively knew it would be even before I listened!