Gods Sabbath

T HE L IFE OF J OB

297

In Christ’s Day

The same error promulgated by Job’s “comforters” was taught by the Jews in Christ’s day. It comes to light, for instance, when Jesus healed the blind man of whom the disciples, reflecting er roneous Jewish theology, asked: “‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.’” John 9:2. The disciples’ question revealed the popular opinion of their time. The existing theology taught that suffering was a sure in dication of cherished sin. Through this belief, a heavy load was added to the sufferer, who not only had to bear the pain caused by the suffering itself, but his falsely educated conscience also accused him, and his neighbors cast condemning looks at him.

Suffering, persecution, and even death, are not positive indications that there is sin in the life. Job suffered fear fully, but it was as a righteous man, and anyone who ar gues otherwise is taking the same position as the men whom Satan used in his attempt to destroy Job’s faith and to deprive him of his Sabbath rest.