From Curiosity to Compassion

Originally published April 5, 2021

The Man Born Blind 

John 9 records the encounter of Jesus, His disciples, and a man born blind. As Jesus and the disciples come closer to this disabled man the disciples ask Jesus a question. John records the encounter and their question like this: 

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his sins or his parents’ sins?” (NLT) 

There are some options on the table for the disciples here. They could have said, "Jesus, we know this guy has been here for a long time. He needs help. Do you think you could heal him?" They could have appealed to Jesus to have Judas, the group's treasurer, donate monetarily to this blind man. Neither of these two options appears to have crossed their minds. 

Instead, the disciples' first response is not one of compassion but curiosity. They do not see a man who needs assistance. Rather, they see a theological question they can get Jesus to answer. In their mind, the greatest need was not helping a hurting human being but satisfying their curiosity. 

The Man Born Lame 

Fast forward to Acts 3. Here, Peter and John encounter a man lame from birth who was regularly carried to the Temple to beg. As Peter and John head into worship, they stop, acknowledge the man, and request his attention with a direct, "Look at us." As the man looks to Peter and John, I imagine his mind runs wild with possibilities - both good and bad. Will these two men cast coins or criticisms in his direction? Will they look favorably on him and his condition or will they see his disability and determine he bears the responsibility for his present situation? 

Speaking directly to the lame man, Peter says, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” (NLT) The man is immediately healed and he joins Peter and John praising and worshiping in the Temple. 

The Disability-Effective Leader 

Two stories. Two disabilities. Yet two different approaches. In John 9, a disability leads to a question of personal and theological curiosity. In Acts 3, the same two men approach disability, not with curiosity but compassion. What changed in Peter and John so that they responded differently? 

I would suggest it was the time spent with Jesus that changed the way these new church leaders responded to disability. Peter and John have spent three years watching Jesus look favorably on those their society has cast aside. They have watched their Rabbi and Savior touch those deemed untouchable. 

Now, their curious questions have been replaced by concrete actions. They willingly engage the disabled, responding with an eye towards empathy and an inclusive touch. Indeed, it is a look of compassion and a hand of inclusion that led to much celebration in the Temple. This man is wholly restored into the community of faith. This healing encounter shows how much Peter and John learned from Jesus when it came to disabilities and inclusion. 

It is no different today. The disability-effective pastor or church leader is one who intentionally engages the disabled by extending to them a welcome of compassion and inclusion. This welcome, when extended and received, has the potential to cause much celebration in worship as those who are disabled become part of the full body-life of the church. 

Chris Hulshof serves as a Board Member for The Banquet Network and is also an associate professor and department chair for Liberty University’s School of Divinity where he teaches Old Testament Survey, Inductive Bible Study, and a Theology of Suffering and Disability. For more stories like this one, go to our blog page, or click to connect, learn or donate to the mission of The Banquet Network.