Following our Lord's Example

The Abilities Church

Luke 4:18-19

Our Lord Jesus in His earthly ministry showed special favor to people with disabilities.  He showed compassion towards the lame, blind, crippled and deaf.   We need to follow the example of our Lord and give people with disabilities the equal opportunity to worship and minister in the church. The lesson from Jesus' interaction with people with disabilities is to include them in the church and not exclude them as often occurs.  Jesus' example is that we should acknowledge, promote and empower people with disabilities by giving them a special place of importance in our Church ministries.  Below are some scripture examples of Christ personal ministry to people with disabilities in the New Testament church.

Eyewitnesses report of Jesus ministry to people with disabilities and the disadvantaged

Matthew 11:2-5 2. When John the Baptist heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3."Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"  4. Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see:  5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor."

Jesus heals the epileptics and paralytics

Matthew 4:24

Jesus heals two blind men

Matthew 9:27 As Jesus went out from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David"!  28. When he had gone indoor, the blind men came to him, and Jesus asked them, "Do you believe that I' am able to do this"?  "Yes Lord" they replied.  29. Than Jesus touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith it will be done to you".; 30. and their sight was restored.

Jesus heals man with the withered hand

Matthew 12:10-13

Jesus heals man who was both blind and mute

Matthew 12: 22  Then they brought him a demon possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 

The lame, blind, crippled, dumb and many others are brought to Jesus

Matthew 15:29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee.  Then he went up into the hills and sat down.  30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the dumb and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the dumb speaking; the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing.  And they praised the God of Israel.

Jesus heals epileptic boy

Matthew 17:14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.  15  "Lord, have mercy on my son", he said.  "He is an epileptic and is suffering greatly.  He often falls into the fire or into the water....17 Jesus said bring the boy to me". 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

Jesus had compassion for people with disabilities

Matthew 20: 29  As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.  30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"  31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 32  Jesus stopped and called them.  "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.  33 "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight," 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Jesus ministered to people with disabilities inside the house of worship

Matthew 21:14 The blind and the lame came to Jesus in the temple, and he healed them 15 But when the chief priest and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.

Jesus heals man with withered hand

Mark 1:29-31

The healing of a blind man at Bethesda

Mark 8:22 They came to Bethesda, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and let him outside the village.  When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “do you see anything?"  24. He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around."  25  Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes.  Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.  26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “don’t go into the village."

Blind Bartimaeus receives his sight

Mark 10:46-52

Jesus heals woman crippled for 18 years

Luke 13:10-17

Jesus heals man with dropsy

Luke 14:1-6

Jesus commands us to invite people with disabilities to our social gatherings

Luke 14:12 Than Jesus said to his hosts, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed.  Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Jesus shows compassion towards large groups of people with various disabilities and heals a man who had been disabled for 38 years

John 5:3  By the pool in Bethesda a great number of disabled people used to lie- the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in that condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"  7 "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred,  While I am  trying to get in someone else goes down ahead of me".  8  Than Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk."  9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

Jesus heals man born blind from birth on the Sabbath

John 9:1-41

Over 50% of Jesus earthly ministry was dedicated to people with disabilities