MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS FROM JOHN: 7 Words + 7 Signs - 12/10/09

Matt continued our series in the gospel of John looking at Jesus' second 'word' - I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD - from John 9.1-7

REM famously wrote “Everybody hurts…sometimes….so hold on” and it is a sentiment that is every person can relate to because we live in a world of sin, suffering and evil…there is lots of darkness.

However there are 2 common assumptions that we make when it comes to suffering that this passage highlights (vs1-3)

(1) Did the man sin (inward guilt). However if this was true (that God paid us back for every sin) then we’d all be doomed.

(2) Was it his parents sin (outward guilt). We all look for a scapegoat - family, background, church, politics….and God. However in doing this we are assuming that God oews us a comfortable life, that God is in our debt - when in fact, we are all in his debt.

In fact, the relationship between sin and suffering is more complex than “if I sin I get punished.” Yes there is general suffering that comes from our sin (Genesis 3) but we are not to link specific suffering to specific sins (as the people in this story want to do).

Jesus avoids the two assumptions and gives a provocative, challenging and comforting answer to the question (vs3) - He says that although God hates suffering he uses it to draw people to himself.

C.S Lewis famously said “God whispers in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences but shouts in our pain. Suffering is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world”

But more than just that, Jesus tells us not only can God use suffering for good “to get our attention” but that he is “the light of the world.” In this dark world, we are not to look inward, not to look outward but look to him, the light of the world.

But the setting for this second word is worth noting. Jesus is at the Jewish feast of the tabernacles which celebrated God’s provision to his people in the wilderness - water from rock, manna from heaven & a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night guide (the shekinah glory of God). Water would have been poured on the alter (to represent water from rock), some people would have built huts outside the city (to represent that wilderness wanderings) and most importantly, the oil drums on the 4 huge pillars in the outer courts of the temple were lit up (to represent God’s provision of light in the desert) and in the midst of all that Jesus says “I am the light of the world.”

In suffering, in pain, in darkness….we don’t look inward, we don’t look outward - we look to him, the light of the world to provide comfort and hope. He is the one we hold onto in the darkness because he is the light of the world

Reflection and Application

(1) How do you respond to suffering and pain? Do you look inward and blame yourself or do you look outward and blame someone else (maybe God)?

(2) How does the knowledge that God uses suffering for our good help us (a) prepare for suffering, (b) to cope when suffering comes and (c) reflect once the suffering is past? Other passages that may help are Romans 5.1-5, James 1.1-5, 1 Peter 1.3-8 & Hebrews 12.1-12

(3) How does Jesus being the light of the world help you in your suffering? How does that give you hope?

(4) How does it affect your suffering knowing that Jesus experienced physical, emotional and spiritual suffering as well?

(5) How can you help each other “hold on” to Jesus when the darkness comes?

(6) How would you start to answer a friend who said “why does God allow suffering?”

(7) Appropriate songs = light of the world & blessed be your name