Jesus and the Handicapped

Devotion: John 9 1-41

 

Jesus and the Handicapped

 

Physical blindness is bad, but spiritual blindness is worse because it deceives the person into believing there is nothing wrong with them and that their view of the world is correct and true.

 

As Jesus and his disciples were approaching the temple, they passed by a man that had been blind from birth, so the disciples became curious and asked ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?

 

Jesus corrected them and said, this man’s blindness was not the result of either his or his parents' sin, but people are created for the glory of God without regard to any handicap they may have.

 

This man was born blind that God would be glorified through him and we must not assume the reason a person is suffering, rather we should emphasize the work God called us to do.

 

 

In a similar manner, we are to be lights of God’s revelation to others (Matthew 5:14-16). 

 

A day will come when you no longer will be in the world and therefore your light will no longer shine and cannot do the work of God.

 

Jesus healed this man’s blindness but at the same time the man’s obedience demonstrated his faith and submission to him, and he was healed.

 

This submission is similar to what Elisha required Namaan to do (2 Kings 5).

 

 

When the blind men went back to his place, the neighbor’s were astonished to see him receive his sight. 

 

And when the Pharisees heard this, they took this man to interrogate him as they would do anything to suppress Jesus’s popularity, so much so they even questioned the blind man’s parents.

 

The blind man questioned them back saying, If Jesus was not from God, He could do nothing.

 

They could not argue with his conclusion, so they accused him of being a disciple of Jesus and took the superiority in saying they are disciples of Moses. 

 

Pharisees were often found following Jesus. Some with genuine interest in what Jesus had to say since some did become disciples after His death and resurrection (Acts 15), but most were trying to find a way to entrap Him.

 

 

Even after this person was healed of blindness, he did not see Jesus face to face until he had given his testimony to neighbors and community leaders.

 

Jesus’ method was to cultivate the man born blind through a process of understanding and transformation and he was persecuted for seeing and believing.

The trials that he went through did not diminish the joy of recovering his sight. In fact, he grew bolder with every step.

 

The man born blind from birth was chosen to give abundant witness and light to the most hardened unbelievers.

 

Our task is to be a witnesses for Jesus, the light of the world! Only the gospel of grace can open the eyes of the spiritually blind.

 

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Christ's example of a Man Who worked the works of God and Who used every precious moment to carry out Your will through His life. 

Give us the opportunity to share the gospel of reconciliation with others, knowing that the night is coming when none of us will be able to work. We pray that the good work that You started , will be completed for Your  glory at the coming of Christ, AMEN.