"What about..?" will not help you on the Day of Judgment

John 9:2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

Apparently tradition in the Jewish culture had it that if you had some type of physical disability it was because there was a history of sin in you or your family. It is interesting that they would presume that they were without sin, after all, they didn't have a physical disability. We see this type of confusion in the story of Job , and we certainly see it today. There are preachers in the word of faith movement today that will tell you that you are not rich, or you are not healed because you don't have enough faith. Of course, if you send them more money then your faith will increase to the level needed to be rich, or be healed.

Jesus makes it clear that this is not the issue:

John 9:3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

Talk about being predestined! This man was predestined to bring Glory to God through Jesus healing him. Jesus wasn't suggesting that the family was sinless, He was saying that their sin had nothing to do with his ailment. But, like everyone else in the world, he was created to bring God Glory. Not everyone will bring God Glory in this life, but whether it be in this life when people see what God has done in your life, or in eternity when God pours out His wrath on the non-believers; either way God will be glorified.

John 9:8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, "Is not this he who sat and begged?"

As I read this today I couldn't help but draw a parallel between this man who was physically blind his entire life and begged for help, and those that are spiritually blind and seeking The Truth. Until they encounter Jesus, they will not see The Truth; but if they really are thirsting for The Truth and continue to beg for It, there spiritually blind eyes will be open.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

John 9:11 He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight."

It is interesting to note that Jesus could have opened his blind eyes right on the spot; but instead He calls him to an act of obedience. The man could have ignored Jesus' command and thought how silly it was that He had put mud on his eyes; or he could have obeyed. Over and over again, The Word gives illustrations, examples and commands of obedience and surrender to Jesus Christ.

John 9:16a Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." ….

Much like today, these men were so wrapped up in their religion that they were blinded to the things of God.

After the religious leaders intimidate and cross-examine him and his parents, this man raps it all up with one of the greatest statements any believer could ever make:
John 9:25 He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."

Many times you hear people say they pray, but they do not have a relationship with the only one that can answer prayer. Many times you see people on Facebook and other venues that may be going through a trial in their life and call on others to pray with them, yet they are clearly of the world. This is a very hard thing for people to hear, but the Word of God makes it clear, God does not hear the prayers of non-believers:
John 9:30-31 The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!
31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.

The verses following this are an amazing demonstration of a person being born-again and given the Godly wisdom needed. It is also interesting to see how the “brightest minds of religion” receive his rebuke:
John 9:33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing."
34 They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out

Later in the chapter Jesus has another encounter with “the religious”:

John 9:41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.

Verse 41 reminds me of those that, when faced with The Gospel, say, “what about those that have never heard?” We know that God is Just, and He makes a clear statement about this. If they are blind to The Gospel, indicating that they have never heard it, or don't have the ability to comprehend it, they are without sin. However, the question should not be what about those that have never heard, or can't comprehend; the better question is, what are you going to do with what you have heard. There are two things I know for sure: One; if you are reading this, you do not qualify as one never having heard. Two: The question, “what about those that have never heard” will not help you on the day of Judgment if you reject Jesus Christ in this life.