Who sinned that the Pandemic of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is Spreading? (John 9:1-7)
Ever since the COVID-19 began to outbreak in our country and
number of patients began to increase, the pall of uncertainty and fear also
began to engulf our heart. Due to this deadly virus, educational institutions
are shut down; aviation or public transport are banned; public places like
Malls, Multiplexes, etc. are closed down and religious gatherings in everywhere
are banned. Government has announced the nationwide lockdown till 3 May 2020
and social distancing; quarantine and isolation are being observed in order to
reduce the spread of COVID-19. The scariest part of this, so far there is
neither specific treatment nor medicine nor is there any vaccination for it.
Across the world scientists are working on developing the vaccination for it,
yet no one has succeed.
The global crisis of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has raised some good
theological questions: Is the Coronavirus the judgement of God? Where is God in
the time of Coronavirus? Or who sinned that the pandemic of Coronavirus is
spreading? Worldwide Christian intellectuals has given their inputs and opinions
on this issue in the light of the Holy Scripture. Theologically, it is not easy
to find out the exact reason of the outbreak of this deadly disease across the
world, but in the Holy Scripture, we can find the ray of hope midst this hour
of darkness.
John, one of Jesus’ disciples writes: “As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his
disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was
born blind?” (vs. 1-2) In our culture, it is believed that physical illness,
disability or accidents are caused by our sins. It seems that disciples
constructed their question on such kind of theological persuasion. But it was
not so, their question was based on the Law of God: “… he does not leave the
guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of
Fathers to the third and fourth generation.[1]”
(Exodus 34:7b, cf. 20:5) Therefore they added this thought while they asked
the question.
In this portion of the Gospel, he deals with this question implicitly:
who sinned …? This particular incident gives
us some previews to understand that why God allows such things in our lives whether
it is physical disabilities or deadly disease like Coronavirus (COVID-19). Jesus
spoke about the twofold purposes that God is going to fulfil in HIS sovereignty
and providence no matter what.
THE WORK OF GOD MIGHT BE DISPLAYED (vs. 3)
“Jesus answered, “it was not that this
man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in
him.” (vs. 3) Our Lord Jesus Christ refused it as a retribution of an angry
God against sin. When Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak at Wuhan City, Many
Christian thinkers thought that it is God’s judgement, But as soon as it began
to spread other parts
of world, their opinion also began to differ. Jesus’ answer was simple, but it
is theological profound. Jesus rejected human cause, but spoke about the
purpose of God in human suffering. It doesn’t mean that Jesus has refused to
believe generally that the existence of sin has caused the sufferings in the
world (cf. Gen. 3:1-19; Rom. 8:18-25), but Jesus’ answer lies not on the past
causes – but on the future purpose. God has planned, designed and has good
purpose for each one of us (Exodus 4:11, Ps. 139:13-16), even we human beings
are incapable to solve whole mysterious work of God. (Deut. 29:29)
The global crisis of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is not something
that God didn’t know, have not plan and purpose, but simply it happened by
chance – which later God will use it to fulfil HIS good purpose. Not at all. It
might be difficult most of us to grasp, but God knew it, planned it, designed it
and set purposes for it (Daniel 4:34b-35, Acts 17:26), whether it is our blindness
or deadly Coronavirus. The world might be suffered because of deadly
Coronavirus, not because of sin – but the work of God might be displayed in
lives of people. Therefore it is not our task to ask question, rather we must trust
the greatness and goodness of God midst this global crisis.
THE WORK OF GOD MIGHT BE DONE (vs. 4-7)
“We must work the works of him who sent
me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in
the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on
the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with
the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent).
So he went and washed and came back seeing” (vs.
4-7)This pandemic has opened the new avenue for ministry. It has
challenged us many ways. This global crisis has shaken our ground beneath our
feet. It has challenged us to walk in the faith, even we don’t have any clue
where to put our next step. Alongside caring our own family, it has challenged
us to care our neighbours who is lacking food on their table. It has challenged
us to take some practical actions rather than to stay behind the door that
world may know how Jesus loves and cares them, even they have been rejecting
HIM since the day they heard of HIM.
Jesus knew that he came into the world to fulfil the purpose of
God, not to explain the mysteries of God’s work. Jesus healed the blind man,
even in the day of Sabbath. (John 9:14) Jesus was there to do God’s work.
Similarly God in HIS providence we are in the mission field far away from our
native place, to do God’s ministry. Let us strive together that works of God
might be done in this time of global crisis of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
CONCLUSION
This description of
John’s Gospel encourages us today when human existence is under threat due to
Coronavirus (COVID-19) that God has wise and good purposes for everything that
is happening in world. It would be unkind to ask: who sinned that the pandemic of
Coronavirus is spreading? China? Italy? India? Or USA? No one knows. It is
worth to read what N. T. Wright has expressed – “It is no part of the
Christian vocation, then, to be able to explain what’s happening and why. In
fact, it is part of the Christian vocation not to be able to
explain—and to lament instead. As the Spirit laments within us, so we become,
even in our self-isolation, small shrines where the presence and healing love
of God can dwell. And out of that there can emerge new possibilities, new acts
of kindness, new scientific understanding, new hope.” [2]
Therefore let us focus on the purpose of God, for which God has called us
to keep following our Lord Jesus Christ and keep preaching the Gospel of Jesus
Christ (Acts 20:24); although the Coronavirus outbreak has surrounded us with a
cloud of questions and hindered us to come together for worship.
[1] Scripture
taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW
INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan. All right reserved.
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