DAY 3

The Engage Disability Conference in Chennai, India, last year.

JOHN 9:2-5. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

The whole chapter of John 9 was featured at the Engage Disability conference in India, which I attended last year. Multiple times, speakers and conference attendees mentioned this passage. It was interesting that this passage was foremost in the Indian Christians’ minds, since in Australia I’ve rarely heard it mentioned in relation to disability ministry. The passage depicts Jesus healing a man born blind. The part of the passage that had Indian Christians fired up was when the disciples asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” and Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

Someone at the conference told me that in India, a disability is seen as indicating that a person is cursed or evil. Aha! This made sense why the passage stood out. For the blind man, his disability is the very opposite of a curse. His disability has a very specific, God-glorifying purpose. The situation with this blind man showed Jesus’ kindness and compassion. It also showed Jesus’ power over creation to be able to heal this man. Furthermore, it led this blind man to believe in Jesus and therefore have his entire soul saved, not just his sight restored. The blind man may never have turned to Jesus without this healing.

Even though disabilities are a sign of brokenness and will one day be no more for those who belong to Jesus, they have a very specific purpose in this life. Just like this blind man, people’s disabilities may be a blessing from God. May our eyes be opened to see the eternal purposes of what some people would consider a curse. 

Pray for Jesus Club

• Praise be to the God of the world who uses unexpected means, like disability, to glorify himself. Pray that we will see disability as not merely a sign of brokenness, but as a gift with a God-glorifying purpose.
• Last year there was some early talk about setting up Jesus Club in India. Pray that God will reach people with disabilities in India.