Reflection Questions: John 9 from 30,000 Feet
by Pastor Gene
- Those who oppose clearly-taught biblical concepts often do so by appealing to God’s ‘fairness.’ Some deny the doctrine of election (Matt. 11:27; John 6:44, 65; Acts 13:48; Eph.1:4-5, 11) because they claim it makes God ‘unfair’. The same holds for the doctrine of a literal hell (Rev.20:10, 15). ‘No fair God would consign those He’d created to a place of eternal suffering,’ they say. So, how would you define ‘fair’? Is ‘fair’ giving each person what he or she deserves? Or is it something else? How do we answer those who either (1) charge God with unfairness, or (2) deny the clear teaching of His Word to suit their definition of fairness?
- Was it ‘fair’ of God to make/allow the man in John 9 to be born blind so that His works might be shown in him (John 9:3)? Why or why not? Was it ‘fair’ of God to give Satan permission to kill Job’s children (Job 1:12-19)? Or to allow that “blameless and upright” man (2:6-8) to suffer as he did? Why or why not? Or to allow Satan to give Paul a “thorn in the flesh” which He refused to remove (2 Cor. 12:7-10)? Why or why not? Was it ‘fair’ of God to make His own Son, who knew no sin, to become sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21)? So, discuss these things. What’s your understanding of ‘divine fairness’?
- What’s wrong with the way some people measure the fairness of God (Isa. 55:8-9; Job 38:1-4, 40:1-2, 6-8; 1 Cor.2:16)? What does Paul say to those who question God’s fairness (Rom. 9:14-23)? Is it sin to do so (Job 1:22)? What do we need to factor into the equation when weighing God’s fairness (1 Cor. 13:12; Rom. 8:28; Jer.29:11)? Have you ever felt that God was unfair to you? How did you resolve it?
- Jesus could have healed this blind man any way He wanted to. He could have healed him with His Words alone (Mk 10:46-52), or His saliva & a touch (Mk 8:22-25), or a touch alone (Matt. 9:27-30). So why did He stoop down, make mud with His spit and soil, and apply it to the man’s eyes? What is this a picture of (Gen. 2:7)? Jesus was the Agent of creation – the One through whom the Father created all things (John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb.1:2). So, what was the Creator ‘creating’ here?
- God rested on the 7th day from creating the heavens and the earth, animal life and humans – all physical creations. But Col. 1:16 extends His creative work far beyond the physical realm: “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him.” So, is the Creator done creating? If so, what do we do with 2 Cor. 5:17? Or 2 Pet. 3:13? Or with Matt. 19:28, where Jesus uses a ‘new’ word that is only found here in the Bible (translated “the new world,” although “the regeneration” is better)? Is God still creating today? Is He doing a creative work in us? Are believers a work of ‘constant creation’?
