Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him” (John 9:3).
Once again we turn to Alexander Nisbet and his commentary on 1 Peter 4 to open today’s study. He wrote, “One main end for which the Lord exercises His people with fiery trials is that they may have proof of the strength of His grace in them for their comfort, Romans 5:3, and a discovery of their weakness thereof also, and of the much dross of corruption which is with it, for their humiliation and purging, Isaiah 27:9, for this the Apostle affirms of the hottest sufferings of the godly, that they are only to try them.”
We see find this to be true from two biblical cases: the blind man of John 9 and Job.
When the disciples saw a blind man groping in the street, they asked, “Whose sin caused his blindness?” Like Job’s friends, they assumed the blindness was some sort of punishment from God. But Jesus explained that the man’s blindness was intended to reveal God’s character, particularly His power. Through the man’s frailty, God was able to manifest His power. Who has not stood in awe at the power of God when someone has been restored to health, when we have seen healing in the midst of brokenness? If we never had to deal with sickness or pain in this life, we would never witness, and thus never stand in awe, of God’s power in overcoming those afflictions.
As Nisbet said, sometimes suffering comes as a trial, as a means for God to reveal His grace, His authority, and for us to know our weakness and dependence upon Him for all things. This was certainly the case for Job, who learned to trust God in all situations: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. “Job’s trials taught him to trust in God’s power and wisdom, and it also served to humble Job who did not understand the specific purposes of his losses. God never told Job why he was suffering; He simply told him to trust in the One who created and sustains all life according to His goodness and wisdom. This is a great lesson for us all because we don’t always know why we are suffering. But we do know that we can trust God and have faith in Him to do what is best. While this is a humbling thing to do, it is a valued lesson that can only be learned through suffering.
Read Hebrews 2:10–18. How do the sufferings of Christ benefit you? What comfort do you find in vv. 17–18 and 4:14–16? Your salvation could only be realized in the suffering of Christ; He had to die for you. What then should your attitude be toward Christ when you are suffering? Thank Him for His sacrifice and love.
