John 9 · a question people ask
"This man didn’t sin, nor did his parents, but that the works of God might be revealed in him" (9:3). Does that mean God made him blind for this?
Here is what the chapter says. The disciples ask, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" (9:2). Jesus answers, "This man didn’t sin, nor did his parents, but that the works of God might be revealed in him" (9:3), and goes on to what he must do: "I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day" (9:4). Then the man comes back from the pool seeing (9:6-7). Jesus says nothing more in this chapter about why the man was born blind, and these notes don't either. His words are about this one man, and these notes don't apply them to anyone else's blindness, illness or disability. Whether sickness or hardship comes from sin is asked in other Favor chapters; see the go-deeper Questions other chapters ask.
The verses
“His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “This man didn’t sin, nor did his parents, but that the works of God might be revealed in him. I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing.”