What did Jesus mean by saying "the works of God might be displayed" in the man born blind?
score:2
Commentators tend to take two views: that the works of God refer to 1) Jesus healing the man or 2) God's working throughout the man's life. Your suggestion fits nicely into the second option.
Representatives of the first view include John Gill:
That is, that Christ might have an opportunity of working a miracle in the cure of him (source)
Adam Clarke similarly focuses on the current event of the healing and salvation of the man:
[The blindness] shall now become the instrument of salvation to his soul, edification to others, and glory to God. (source)
Thomas Aquinas distinguishes between several types of afflictions, two of which being to "encourage virtue" and "manifest the divine glory." He thus sees them as distinct, and sees this passage as an example of the latter, via the healing of the blind man. (source, §1302 ff.)
Representatives of the second view include Albert Barnes, calling attention to providence acting throughout his life:
By the works of God, here, is evidently intended the miraculous power which God would put forth to heal the man, or rather, perhaps, the whole that happened to him in the course of divine providence first his blindness, as an act of his providence, and then his healing him, as an act of mercy and power. (source)
But John Calvin clearly points to the man's blindness in itself as being a way for God to teach others:
He does not, say a single work, but uses the plural number, works; for, so long as he was blind, there was exhibited in him a proof of the severity of God, from which others might learn to fear and to humble themselves. It was afterwards followed by the benefit of his cure and deliverance, in which the astonishing goodness of God was strikingly displayed. (source)
Though he does not specifically mention your idea of it encouraging sympathy in others, that concept fits nicely with this understanding of God's work in the blind man.
Upvote:0
"But this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him." "Might be." This makes me think of suffering. Suffering is sometimes a blessing in disguise, because without it, it MAY be hard to feel and understand compassion. People have the choice on how they treat others while suffering...some may become bitter with the world, while others know what suffering is and will show compassion to the world because of their suffering.
"Might be" strikes a cord...In that, just because someone suffers, doesn't always mean they show compassion.
For me, suffering has made me see the light. My eating disorder...amongst many other things. I don't ask why anymore, I see it as a sacrifice to the Lord, because I am hurting. instead of asking why, I ask myself how the suffering helps me understand those who are suffering as well, without judging them. Without suffering my own battles, I wouldn't be where I am, or understand true compassion. it almost reminds me of st. Bernadette and how she suffered immensely with no one knowing...the works of God were displayed in her yet no one knew how much she was suffering. Jesus suffered for us...because he loved us and sacrificed himself. with suffering, there is a greater good, that we sometimes don't have the ability to see...but it's all part of God's plan.
Upvote:1
Another viable translation: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered, “but let the works of God be displayed in him. Note the subtle language difference but the great difference in implication.
Jesus shows us that the question to ask is not, “Who sinned?” but “What can we do to help the situation?” He does not leave us with some mysterious purpose for the man’s blindness, but fights for his healing, rejecting the disciples’ desire to point fingers at who is to blame. This also fits well with the context, as Jesus goes on to talk about the necessity of working the works of God while he can.
See the following link for more details: Who Sinned That This Man Was Born Blind?
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