How to See Life in 321 - a Guide to John's GospelSample

Why do bad things happen to good people?

When the disciples come across a man born blind in John chapter 9, they want to know: “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2). In one sense, it’s a shocking question. In another, it’s what people are always asking. We all want to know “what went wrong” when suffering hits. And often, we end up blaming the sufferer.

Think about when you suffer. If you’re anything like me, you will start to ask, “What did I do wrong?” Maybe you ask the question in a very practical sense. You are retracing your steps and trying to learn the lessons for future reference. But maybe you are also blaming yourself unhelpfully. I’ve met many people who have blamed themselves for the tragedies that have befallen them. Sometimes, the “sins” that they think have triggered the tragedy seem completely unrelated to the suffering they’re experiencing. I’ve often wondered why we do this. Why do we look to things we have done to explain the suffering we’re experiencing?

Sometimes, it’s warranted. Maybe the reason I’m ill is because I haven’t looked after my health. But often, it’s completely unwarranted. Often, we blame ourselves for our suffering because it gives us a sense of control. If we brought the calamity on ourselves, then we are in charge. What really scares us is the idea that, sometimes, calamity simply strikes. But Jesus sets us all straight. He says:

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

This is both scary and comforting all at once. It’s scary because sometimes suffering strikes, and there’s nothing anyone could have done about it. When you realize that even the Son of God suffers—in fact, he suffers the most—then you come to see that we cannot protect ourselves from suffering, we must go through it. Scary! But it’s comforting, too, because the Son of God is determined to redeem suffering. He did it with his own suffering, and he will do it with ours if we allow him.

Why do bad things happen to good people? Well, the worst things happened to the best person — what makes us think we will avoid suffering. But as you read John 9, consider the character of Jesus and ask yourself: Is this someone who could get me through the suffering of this world?