Lent Day 23 [03.16.2026] Spiritual Sight

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. - John 9:5

Scripture: John 9

As Jesus was exiting the temple grounds, He encounters a man that was born blind. At the sight of him, Jesus’ disciples ask, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Throughout the Old Testament, God would declare blessings or curses over generations based on the actions of an individual. In the minds of Jesus’ disciples, this man or his parents must have committed an egregious sin against God to be cursed with blindness; however, Jesus responds with a radical truth that shows how His presence truly changes everything:

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in Him.”

It is vital to understand the motive more than the circumstance behind Jesus’ words. God has permitted suffering at the hands of the prince of this world: the devil (John 16:11). While it may be difficult to understand how an all loving and all-powerful God could allow such suffering to take place, we must also fully admit that suffering is the direct and immediate consequence of sin. In other words, we cannot omit the truth that if we had not sinned there would be no suffering. So what is God’s motive in permitting the devil to devolve the suffering that sin has caused in this world?

1.     To show us that we do not belong in this world.

a.     This world is spiritually hostile and destructive to us.

2.     To show us that salvation and redemption would be at the cost of great suffering.

a.     God’s solution to justice and love would require a willing and sufficient sacrifice.  

3.     To show us that Jesus Christ would be the sacrifice that would change everything.

a.     This man who was born blind would have been condemned to a broken life, but the arrival of Jesus changes everything. Blindness is no longer a curse, but a platform to display the power and love of God.

Reflection:

1.     How does trusting in Jesus change our attitude and perspective on suffering?

2.     What is one burden or hardship you can turn into an opportunity for God to do great things in and through you?

Prayer:

Dear God, I may not understand my suffering, but I know you have always been and are still in control. Help me to trust in you through every circumstance and use the obstacles in my life as a platform to show your glory to the world. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

제목: 영적인 시력

본문: 요한복음 9장

예수님께서 성전 뜰을 떠나시던 중, 날 때부터 맹인이었던 한 사람을 만나십니다. 그를 본 제자들이 예수님께 묻습니다.“랍비여, 이 사람이 맹인으로 태어난 것이 누구의 죄 때문입니까? 이 사람입니까, 그의 부모입니까?”

구약성경을 보면 하나님께서 한 사람의 행동에 따라 그 세대와 후손에게 복이나 저주를 선언하신 장면들이 있습니다. 그래서 제자들의 생각에는 이 사람이나 그의 부모가 하나님께 큰 죄를 지었기 때문에 그 결과로 맹인이 되었다고 여겼습니다. 그러나 예수님께서는 하나님의 임재가 모든 것을 어떻게 변화시키는지를 보여 주는 놀라운 진리를 말씀하십니다.

“이 사람이나 그 부모의 죄 때문이 아니라, 하나님께서 하시는 일을 그에게서 나타내고자 하심이라.”

이 말씀의 의미를 이해할 때, 상황보다 예수님의 의도를 아는 것이 중요합니다. 하나님께서는 이 세상의 통치자인 마귀(요한복음 16:11)가 활동하도록 허락하셨고, 그로 인해 세상에는 고통이 존재합니다. 사랑이 많으시고 전능하신 하나님께서 왜 이러한 고통을 허락하시는지 이해하기 어려울 때가 있습니다. 그러나 우리는 한 가지 사실을 인정해야 합니다. 고통은 죄의 직접적인 결과라는 것입니다. 다시 말해, 죄가 없었다면 고통도 존재하지 않았을 것입니다.

그렇다면 하나님께서 죄로 인해 이 세상에 들어온 고통을 허락하시는 이유는 무엇일까요?

1. 우리가 이 세상에 속한 존재가 아니라는 것을 보여 주시기 위함입니다.a. 이 세상은 영적으로 우리에게 적대적이며 파괴적인 곳입니다.

2. 구원과 회복이 큰 고통의 대가를 필요로 한다는 것을 보여 주시기 위함입니다.a. 하나님의 공의와 사랑을 이루기 위해서는 기꺼이 자신을 내어주는 충분한 희생이 필요했습니다.

3. 예수 그리스도께서 그 모든 것을 변화시키는 희생 제물이 되실 것을 보여 주시기 위함입니다.a. 날 때부터 맹인이었던 이 사람은 평생을 고통 속에서 살아가야 했을지도 모릅니다. 그러나 예수님의 등장은 모든 것을 바꾸었습니다. 이제 그의 맹인은 더 이상 저주가 아니라 하나님의 능력과 사랑을 드러내는 통로가 됩니다.

묵상

1. 예수님을 신뢰하는 것이 우리의 고통에 대한 태도와 관점을 어떻게 변화시킬 수 있을까요?

2. 지금 당신이 겪고 있는 부담이나 어려움 가운데 하나를 하나님께서 당신을 통해 놀라운 일을 이루시는 기회로 어떻게 바꿀 수 있을까요?

   
   

기도

사랑의 하나님, 저는 제 고통을 다 이해할 수 없지만 하나님께서 항상 저와 함께하시며 모든 것을 주관하고 계심을 믿습니다. 제 삶의 어떤 상황 속에서도 하나님을 신뢰하게 하시고, 제 삶의 어려움들이 하나님의 영광을 세상에 나타내는 통로가 되게 하여 주옵소서. 예수님의 이름으로 기도합니다. 아멘.