Why do innocent people suffer?
What the Bible Says?
"And His disciples asked Him, saying, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' Jesus answered, 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.'" - John 9:2-3 NKJV
Three Things to Consider
Not all suffering is a punishment for a person's own sin.
We live in a broken world that affects everyone.
God can display His works even in undeserved suffering.
Short Answer
Jesus' disciples assumed a blind man's suffering must be punishment for someone's sin. Jesus corrected them. Not all suffering is a direct result of personal sin. We live in a fallen world where disease, disasters, and other people's choices hurt the innocent. That is heartbreaking, and Scripture doesn't minimize it. But Jesus showed that God can reveal His works even in undeserved pain. The ultimate Innocent Sufferer is Jesus Himself, who suffered unjustly to save the guilty and promises a day of perfect justice.
Want to Go Deeper?
Timeless Answers gives you concise biblical answers to important questions. In Tracing the Thread, Roy Butler goes deeper, showing how biblical doctrine develops through Scripture and how Christians can identify, teach, and defend sound doctrine.
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