Life is not Fair

March 3, 2016

Opening Hymns:
297 Beneath The Cross of Jesus http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh297.sht

Scripture Reading:
John 9:1-41
9:1 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth.

9:2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

9:3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him.

9:4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.

9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

9:6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes,

9:7 saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.

9:8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?"

9:9 Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man."

9:10 But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?"

9:11 He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight."

9:12 They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."

9:13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.

9:14 Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.

9:15 Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see."

9:16 Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided.

9:17 So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet."

9:18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight

9:19 and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"

9:20 His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;

9:21 but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself."

9:22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.

9:23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

9:24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner."

9:25 He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."

9:26 They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"

9:27 He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?"

9:28 Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.

9:29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from."

9:30 The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.

9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.

9:32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.

9:33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

9:34 They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.

9:35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

9:36 He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him."

9:37 Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he."

9:38 He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him.

9:39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind."

9:40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?"

9:41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.

Message:
“Why Me?” In the most difficult time in our lives we can often ask ourselves this question. We may do some reflecting on the good and bad in our lives and wonder why people who are crueler or unkind have easier lives than us. “Life is not fair” my dad would tell me when I was a little girl complaining that it wasn’t fair that my brothers got to stay up later than I did. Indeed, we all learn that life isn’t always fair.

The book of Job confronts the “why” of why bad things happen to good people. It is a story about a good man who faced one catastrophe after another. His children died, he lost all his possessions, and he became sick with all sorts of sores and pains. His friends didn’t help and instead told him to curse God. It is a story that helps us realize that even though we are good people bad things can still happen to us. Why is it that people in Jesus’ day didn’t understand that the parents and the blind man did not do any terrible deed to cause their son to be born blind?

It is only human to wonder “why.” I’m sure the blind man wondered it throughout his life. I wonder “why” every time hear of someone being diagnosed with cancer, or when a younger one of my patients die from disease or injury. I wonder it sometimes when I think of my friend Jessica who was born blind. There are no easy answers to this question “why,” but perhaps we are looking at it the wrong way.

Life itself is a gift from God, we are blessed to have each day to live out our lives. If life was “fair,” then each of us would be separated from God’s love because of our sins… instead, God’s gift of His Son has brought us eternal life. It isn’t fair that my friend was born blind. But she has become such a strong and amazing person. She hasn’t let her blindness hinder her dreams and goals. She is now becoming a pastor, and will help those who are spiritually blind see the love of God. The man in our story was blind all his life, and now he can see, and praises and glorifies Jesus' name. 

Life is not fair, and each of us will go through good times, and hard times. We each might wonder “why” throughout our lives. But we need to remember God’s gifts, and His helping hand through all of our troubles. We need to remember our neighbors, friends, and family when they are going through the “why” moments of their life. We can be the comfort and support they need in their toughest times.    

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for each gift that You have given us. Let us be a helpful hand for people who are going through their “why” moments of life. Give us comfort and support through each of our own struggles as well. Amen


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
364 Because He Lives http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh364.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God