Who Sinned?

by Kat Clark

His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but it was so that the works of God might be displayed and illustrated in him.” –John 9:1-5

Sin and suffering. Sometimes we do the wrong thing, and it leads us to pain. But other times we get sick or hurt or go through a valley and we did nothing to cause it. Or did we? This past weekend I received a timely and specific answer to prayer.

It was a Friday afternoon and my son and I were about an hour from home. My car’s battery had died, and we had to wait for roadside assistance to jump it. The problem was I had to get gas before getting on the expressway. My eleven-year-old said a prayer that the car would start back up once I pumped gas. I turned the key in the ignition and…nothing.

“Mom,” he said, turning to me with serious blue eyes, “why didn’t God answer my prayer? Are we being punished?”

I explained to him that it wasn’t a punishment. Sometimes we don’t know why God says no. Maybe God was keeping us off the road at that time to keep us safe. He seemed satisfied with that answer, but his question stuck with me. Since a Covid infection in June of 2022, I have been struggling with chronic health conditions that—while not life-threatening—are life-altering and limiting.

I have prayed many times for healing. I have many times wondered why. On Saturday I was having a particularly rough day, and my son’s question came back to me. Is this a punishment? I couldn’t imagine for what, but I did wonder. I prayed about it, asking God to show me the answer and tell me if something I’d done had caused this.

God answered my prayer the very next day. I’d missed church due to how I was feeling, so I watched the sermon online. Pastor Sean started by expressing that during dark times he’d sometimes wondered if he’d done something wrong. He asked if anyone else had also felt that way. My ears perked up as I had been thinking this very thing just the day before. Pastor Sean’s next words stuck with me: “I want to let you know that’s not what the Gospel says.”

He went on to tell the story of the man born blind. In those days they believed physical ailments were a direct result of sin, either that person’s sin or the sins of their ancestors. Jesus turns this belief on its head, telling His disciples neither this man nor his parents sinned, but it was so the works of God might be displayed and illustrated in him.

Friends, although our choices might lead to pain, our suffering is not dependent upon our sin. Rather, it aligns us with Jesus and acts as a vessel for God’s glory. God tells us we have not because we ask not. God answered my prayer through Pastor Sean. He’ll answer yours too, if you pray for understanding today.

Father God, thank You for being a just and good Father. Thank You for Your wisdom and discernment. Please give us clarity today on that which we struggle to understand. In Your Mighty Name, Amen.