I have borrowed the title for this column from a book by Rabbi Harold Kushner (1935-2023) originally published in 1981. Although that was a few decades back, I believe it’s still worth reading or re-reading today.

In the Gospel of John, chapter nine, we encounter Jesus and his disciples as they travel through the countryside. As they are walking along, they meet a man who was blind from birth. Of course, in those days there were no social programs, no Medicaid, no welfare of any kind. Consequently, this blind man was forced to beg as he stood alongside the road. He depended on the kindness of passers-by.

It’s interesting to note that the disciples’ first reaction was, “Who sinned?” they asked, “This man or his parents, that he was born blind?” They didn't offer assistance; they were more concerned about who was responsible ... who was to blame. To the disciples, it was simple, “someone sinned!” They were stating the conventional wisdom, and asking an obvious (for them) question: “What did this blind man do to cause his life-long condition?” Or maybe, they thought, “it was his mother or father who sinned.” Someone was obviously responsible.

Thankfully, as we read further on in the Gospel story, Jesus rejects this simple calculus of suffering. He refused to go along with the conventional wisdom of the day. Jesus boldly states that neither the blind man, nor his parents caused the blindness. Jesus then, acting out of compassion, gave the man the gift of sight.

There’s another familiar story in the Old Testament book of Job that deals with this same theme ... “who sinned?” Job, it seems was suffering greatly in every way. His children were taken from him. A series of accidents and illnesses nearly destroyed him. His businesses failed due to national disasters; he was truly a broken man. In the middle of all this suffering, Job had several “friends” drop by; thankfully saying nothing for a few days. They finally gave in to promoting the conventional wisdom. I believe that they may have said something like: “OK Job, it’s time to come clean. We know that nothing bad happens without a reason. So just think about it and admit your wrongdoing and everything will be alright.” There's an expression we sometimes use to describe these “helpful” souls; referring to them as “Job’s comforters.”

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Unfortunately, many of us haven't changed much over the years. At our worst, it seems we assume that those who suffer, do so because of sin in their lives and those who are blessed somehow are more worthy. We often judge based on assumptions. But, Jesus saw things differently. He told his disciples that the blind man was born blind, and that through the miracle of healing, God's plan might be revealed in him. Job was not only restored; the Lord doubled his blessings. (Job 42:10)

The creator has a plan and purpose for our lives that no one can see, until Jesus shows up. And we realize that perhaps our suffering is part of the process toward “seeing” who Jesus really is.

Bad things happen in our world because the world is broken. However, God is at work in our midst, to bring good out of evil. Scripture also challenges  us to “overcome evil with good.”

— Dan Van Ommen is a Zeeland resident and a member of the Reformed Church in America. Contact him at dan.vanommen@gmail.com.