ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Pulelulu Sepitema 8, 2021 

that the works of God might be displayed in him

koe‘uhi ke fakae‘a ‘iate ia ‘a e ngaahi ngāue ‘a e ‘Otua´ 

Sione 9 (John 9)

(v. 3-5) Pea tali ‘e Sīsū, Na‘e ‘ikai ko e angahala ‘a e siana ni, pe ko ‘ene mātu‘a: ka koe‘uhi ke fakae‘a ‘iate ia ‘a e ngaahi ngāue ‘a e ‘Otua. Kuo pau ke tau fai ‘a e ngāue ‘a‘ana ma‘ane fekau mai au lolotonga ‘oku ‘aho: ‘oku ‘unu mai ‘a e pō, ‘a ia ‘e ‘ikai lava ai ‘e ha taha ke ngāue. Ka u ka ‘i māmani, ko e maama au ‘a māmani

(v. 3-5) Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

 

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

The account of His healing of a blind man follows. Its values are gained very largely in relation to this spirit of opposition which was being exhibited. The case aroused great interest, so much so that the man was arraigned before the rulers, and his attitude before them aroused their anger even yet more, so that they excommunicated him. Then our Lord sought him out, revealed Himself as the Son of God, and received his worship.

Then, again, He declared that He had come into the world in order that the blind might see and those Who saw might become blind. His statement that He had come to judge the world meant that He would be the separating One, the One through whom God would judge. The position of men would be decided by their attitude toward Himself. In this teaching there was a hinting and outline of the coming order, but without any clear description of it.

David Guzik :: Study Guide for John 12

Speaking to this man’s situation, Jesus told them that even his blindness was in the plan of God so that the works of God should be revealed in him.

Think of all the times the little blind boy asked his mother, “Why am I blind?” Perhaps she never felt she had a good answer. Jesus explained, it is because God wants to work in and through even this. Jesus pointed the question away from why and on to the idea, what can God do in this?

In this man’s case the specific work of God would soon be revealed: to heal him of his blindness. God may reveal His works in other lives other ways, such as joy and endurance in the midst of the difficulty.

“In the economy of God’s Providence, his suffering had its place and aim, and this was to bring out the works of God in his being healed by the Redeemer.” (Alford)

“Evil furthers the work of God in the world. It is in conquering and abolishing evil that He is manifested. The question for us is not where suffering has come from, but what are we to do with it.” (Dods)

“This does not mean that God deliberately caused the child to be born blind in order that, after many years, his glory should be displayed in the removal of the blindness; to think so would again be aspersion on the character of God. It does mean that God overruled the disaster of the child’s blindness so that, when the child grew to manhood, he might, by the recovering of his sight, see the glory of God in the face of Christ, and others, seeing the work of God, might turn to the true Light of the World.” (Bruce)

“We must suppose that every sufferer will in the long run be made aware of his share in promoting that advance; though to-day he suffer blindly, little conscious of his privilege.” (Trench)