Contentment in Any Circumstance
April 8, 2020
Commentary
It is said that in the United States somebody goes blind every twenty minutes. In this chapter, the Lord encountered a blind man. The question put to Him by the disciples concerning the man’s blindness can help us face the question that all of us have asked at one time or another (v. 1): “Why does God permit such suffering to occur?” The disciples apparently thought that this man’s affliction was because of his sin or his parent’s sin (vv. 2,3). Jesus makes it clear that suffering is not always traceable to personal sin (as in the case of this man). Then why was this man born blind? Jesus answers, “But that the works of God might be made manifest in him” (vv. 3-5).
The Lord’s method of healing was unique (vv. 6-7). He put clay on the man’s eyes and told him to go wash. Those who had seen the blind man questioned if he was the one who sat and begged (v. 8) He said, “I am he” (v. 9). Then, they asked how his eyes were opened, and he said Jesus did it (vv. 10-11). They asked where Jesus had gone and he replied, “I do not know” (v. 12).
Handicaps are an opportunity for certain things to be manifest in that person’s life and in the lives of those who come in contact with them. The handicapped often develop inner qualities of peace and joy and strength that other people do not have. Fanny Crosby, a dear saint of the last century, who was blind from her earliest childhood, is a prime example of this type of person. When she was only eight years old she wrote this little poem “Oh, what a happy child I am, although I can’t see. I am resolved that in this world, contented I will be. How many blessings I enjoy that other people don’t? To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot, and I won’t!”
Application
I want to be a person who is not only content in whatever state I find myself in but one who brings peace and joy and strength to the lives of others I may come in contact with, no matter what affliction they may face in life.
John 9:1– 12 (NET)
1 Now as Jesus was passing by, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who committed the sin that caused him to be born blind, this man or his parents?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but he was born blind so that the acts of God may be revealed through what happens to him. 4 We must perform the deeds of the one who sent me as long as it is daytime. Night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said this, he spat on the ground and made some mud with the saliva. He smeared the mud on the blind man’s eyes 7 and said to him, “Go wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated “sent”). So the blind man went away and washed, and came back seeing.
8 Then the neighbors and the people who had seen him previously as a beggar began saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some people said, “This is the man!” while others said, “No, but he looks like him.” The man himself kept insisting, “I am the one!” 10 So they asked him, “How then were you made to see?” 11 He replied, “The man called Jesus made mud, smeared it on my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and was able to see.” 12 They said to him, “Where is that man?” He replied, “I don’t know.”
Illustration: Jake Goldberg’s Great Idea
Several years ago there was a popular program called “The Goldberg’s.” In one episode, Jake Goldberg came home for supper and excitedly told his wife, Molly, about a great idea he had. He wanted to go into business. Molly had some money put away, anticipating just such a thing, and she gave it to him. As they sat at the dinner table, enthusiastically discussing the future, Jake said, “Molly, someday we’ll be eating off of golden plates!” Molly looked at him and replied, “Jake, darling, will it taste any better?” (Source unknown, Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).