Why there is Suffering

 

Long ago, Hannah and Saul [not their real names] had a son who was blind -- even from birth.  This sad dilemma was confusing to them, and they often wondered why the Lord has visited this trial upon them.  In any case, the boy had to pull his own weight around the house, so he sat and begged for over 40 years. Though they themselves were not especially religious, they knew and understood the Lord's demand for righteousness.  They knew that the penalty of sin had fallen upon mankind, and that it was the Israelite's duty to keep the Law, as the righteous Pharisees taught.  There was a lot that was confusing about this, since the Pharisees didn't always seem to have a very straight conception of what was righteous, but in any case they quoted Moses a lot.  It wasn't encouraging to Hannah or Saul to know the demands of the Law, and they were not especially zealous to approach the Lord about this.  None of their prayers, when they made any, seemed to be answered.  In any case, this situation was something to fear -- and they did.

One year, however, a new prophet came through town.  He had the reputation of curing people, and some thought he was a prophet sent from God.  He did seem to be on the outs with the Pharisees, however, and there seemed to be "bad blood" between them.  The fact that Jesus seemed to have such a cavalier attitude toward the Pharisaical interpretation of the Law seemed irreligious to them.  In any case, one didn't know what it all meant.  Neither did it seem likely to them, from a distance, that Jesus would do anything more than add new and different burdens from those laid on by the Pharisees.

Then, this man healed their son.