John 9:1-7
9: As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; 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 these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
Reflection
The blind man’s suffering was not caused by something he or his parents did. Though there is a sense in which all suffering can be traced to the fact that we live in a world that is broken because of sin (Gen. 3:1–19; Rom. 8:18–22), it does not mean that we should assume that our pain is always the direct result of our wrong decisions. Often our pain is simply the standard experience of living in a fallen world.
Those who have received the gospel of God’s grace can find comfort in knowing that their suffering has been factored into God’s larger story. This does not eliminate our pain or invalidate the struggle. It does, however, provide hope to strengthen us for the challenging road ahead. Instead of asking, “Why did this happen to me? Who’s to blame?” we can learn to ask, “What is God going to do through this situation? What is he up to? How might his glory ultimately shine through this?” Only the gospel can enable us to endure suffering as a normal part of the Christian life. The gospel tells us that Jesus has rescued us from the ultimate suffering, condemnation, and separation from the Father that we truly deserve. We now have an eternal hope laid up for us in heaven (Col. 1:5), and very soon we will taste the fullness of God’s universal restoration. In the meantime, our suffering is under the loving hand of a caring Father who is training us to walk with him —and strengthening others who see his glorious work in us as they walk through this broken world as well.
Hebrews 7:22-28
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
Reflection
Christ’s superiority over the priests of Israel “makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant” (Heb. 7:22). There had to be many Old Testament priests, “because they were prevented by death from continuing in office” (v. 23). But the Son of God “holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever,” having been raised from the dead (v. 24). How does this affect us? It brings us great security in our salvation because Jesus “is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (v. 25). The living Christ, our Great High Priest, appears in the presence of God on our behalf and presents his finished sacrifice for us sinners “who draw near to God through him” (v. 25). The Father, therefore, will never reject us.
Psalm 66:20
20 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!
Christ is alive forever, continually presenting you to the Father as purified through his once-for-all sacrifice (Heb. 10:10). Come before him with humble confidence, receive his grace, enjoy his presence, praise his name, and present your requests.