"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.'" ~John 9:1-3

The story of the blind man in John 9 amazes me. Here's a guy who has lived all his life in total darkness while people are bashing him over and over again. "You sinned!" "You're good for nothing!" "You'll never make it in the real world!" "You're not perfect, so stay away!" People have shouted at him. Yelled at him. Shunned him. Mocked him. Judged him. And some have probably spat on him more than once.

The world is looking bleak for the poor dude. Even Jesus' disciples start guessing about the mysterious one who sinned and made the man blind. Peter states firmly that it was the man who sinned. Phillip argued that it was the parents. James says he sides with Phillip, it must of been the parents. Peter asks Judas who he's siding with. Judas mumbles and kicks some dirt, wondering why on earth he was there.

Finally they ask Jesus.

His reply shocks them. "The man is blind because...of what, Jesus?!" Peter, the loud one, shouts. Jesus calmly restates his answer: "...this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

Whoa. Andrew's mouth is hanging open, Peter's sputtering, James and John look like their eyes were opened for the first time, and Judas is rolling his eyes heavenward. They never thought about that before.

And neither do we.

Do we judge and mock the blind/handicap of today? One of the worst things your could ever see in your life is to see someone "less fortunate" being made fun of.

When I'd go to my grandma's house when I was little, sometimes we would go next door and visit the neighbors' horses. Now, the neighbors also had a son who was younger than I was. He couldn't talk, used a walker, and always wanted to hold my hand or touch my hair. He was handicapped, but since I knew him ever since he was a baby it didn't bother me. I never noticed that he was way different than me. He really was a sweet little boy if you look the time to know him, but most people won't.

We are the ones in the world that are "blind" and "handicapped". We never think that the ones who have physical trouble might be used to glorify God, that the work of God, the Creator, might be displayed in their lives.

Are YOU "blind" and "handicapped"? Next time you see someone who is mentally/physically challenged, give them a smile. They need encouragement even more than you do. Remember that they just might be a vessel used to display the work of God.

"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.'" ~John 9:1-3

The story of the blind man in John 9 amazes me. Here's a guy who has lived all his life in total darkness while people are bashing him over and over again. "You sinned!" "You're good for nothing!" "You'll never make it in the real world!" "You're not perfect, so stay away!" People have shouted at him. Yelled at him. Shunned him. Mocked him. Judged him. And some have probably spat on him more than once.

The world is looking bleak for the poor dude. Even Jesus' disciples start guessing about the mysterious one who sinned and made the man blind. Peter states firmly that it was the man who sinned. Phillip argued that it was the parents. James says he sides with Phillip, it must of been the parents. Peter asks Judas who he's siding with. Judas mumbles and kicks some dirt, wondering why on earth he was there.

Finally they ask Jesus.

His reply shocks them. "The man is blind because...of what, Jesus?!" Peter, the loud one, shouts. Jesus calmly restates his answer: "...this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

Whoa. Andrew's mouth is hanging open, Peter's sputtering, James and John look like their eyes were opened for the first time, and Judas is rolling his eyes heavenward. They never thought about that before.

And neither do we.

Do we judge and mock the blind/handicap of today? One of the worst things your could ever see in your life is to see someone "less fortunate" being made fun of.

When I'd go to my grandma's house when I was little, sometimes we would go next door and visit the neighbors' horses. Now, the neighbors also had a son who was younger than I was. He couldn't talk, used a walker, and always wanted to hold my hand or touch my hair. He was handicapped, but since I knew him ever since he was a baby it didn't bother me. I never noticed that he was way different than me. He really was a sweet little boy if you look the time to know him, but most people won't.

We are the ones in the world that are "blind" and "handicapped". We never think that the ones who have physical trouble might be used to glorify God, that the work of God, the Creator, might be displayed in their lives.

Are YOU "blind" and "handicapped"? Next time you see someone who is mentally/physically challenged, give them a smile. They need encouragement even more than you do. Remember that they just might be a vessel used to display the work of God.