History, Prophecy, and Gospel John 9:2-8 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?… 1. We may learn from it to abstain from those superficial and dogmatic judgments on human life which, seeming to honour God with ready explanations of evil, really dishonour Him, and which are often cruelly unjust to men. Evil is in the world, and man is sinful as well as unfortunate. Wickedness works wretchedness, and penalty follows iniquity as echo follows voice, or pain the incision of the knife. But not all pains are punishments. Let despairing as well as cynical doubt be silent. Great as sin is, God is greater. Where sin abounds, grace superabounds. This is not the devil's world, but God's. 2. Let us learn that the supreme business of life is unselfish service, and that the time for service is now. 3. Let us learn the wisdom and power of Jesus' method in reaching men. He authenticates Himself to men by His works as well as by His word — not merely by miraculous works, but by works that are Divine in their goodness. The Healer and Helper of men thus convincingly justifies His claim of Divine kinship. Bring men face to face with Jesus; then they too, like the blind man who was healed, will at last say, "Lord, I believe," and their faith will express itself in homage and service. 4. Finally, let us learn the true nature of faith. Faith is not mere credulity, it is an attitude and an act of the soul. Its object is not a proposition, but a person. It reposes not on greatness or power alone, but on goodness. (History, Prophecy, and Gospel.) Parallel Verses KJV: And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?WEB: His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" |
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