Disabled But Equally Empowered

Theme: Disabled but equally empowered

Text: 2 Sam. 9:1-13; Rom. 8:31-39; Mark 5:22-24, 36-43

The George Bush highway, the N1, has been commissioned and it was an impressive commissioning. A group of people, the disabled, however boycotted the commissioning. They complained that facilities for the disabled were not even considered. The U.N. estimates that 600 million people worldwide - about one-tenth of the world’s population - currently live with some form of disability, ranging from blindness and deafness, to immobility and various mental disabilities. Disability is a natural part of human life and the problems that people with disabilities face often results from society failing in their responsibilities. The Scriptures demand we live according to the word of God and as Christians we cannot fail in our responsibility to the disabled. Although we know His Words our actions testify that we do not obey them. We sometimes even go to the extent of changing them to be able to accommodate our actions. Why do we question what God says? It is because we do not believe the Word of God. Jesus always acted in accordance with the Word of God and met the needs of the disabled. When the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of His garment she was restored to good health. When Jairus came to Him on behalf of his daughter, she was raised from the dead. Both women were disabled but equally empowered

God’s divine will for man is “that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” John 10:10. Life is a journey and God’s plan is for us to glorify His name by enjoying this journey. Jesus Christ met the need of the Gentile woman with an incurable condition for 12 years, just as He met the need of the little 12 year old Jewish girl. Just as the Lord met both their needs, so also is He ready to meet ours. We can only enjoy life’s journey with someone who is able to overcome life’s problems and the only person who can do that is Jesus Christ. The abundant life is to live the life of Christ and enjoy His peace. Christ does not only heal our infirmities He saves us, reconciles us with the Father and gives us His peace, that peace that passes understanding. After healing the woman with the issue of blood, Jesus delayed His journey to the house of Jairus.

It would seem a waste of time to us especially when any lost time would seem to endanger the daughter of Jairus. But this time was not wasted at all. This woman had heard about Jesus and believed that He was the Messiah and capable of healing her infirmity and she acted on her belief. Although she was prevented by law to touch another person because she was unclean and although she was weak from the long illness and it was a struggle to get through the crowd, she persevered till she could touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. The hem of His garments refers to the tassels placed at the corners of the prayer shawl worn by the Jews. These tassels on the hem are a reminder of God’s commandments and are also referred to as wings. By touching the hem of His garments the woman was declaring the Word of God in Mal. 4:2 that “The Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings”. Jesus delayed His journey to acknowledge her faith and get a public confession from her to meet her other needs as well. After she had come forward out of the crowd and told her whole story Jesus said to her ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.’ When God delays it is always for a purpose and divine delays usually test our faith and often results in God blessing us in a greater way. The delay gave the woman Christ’s assurance of peace. But the delay was also a blessing for Jairus. Sometimes God delays so that we can focus our attention on what He wants to do. God’s resources, His power and His peace are available to us all. We all have equal access to the Saviour but we have to approach Him in faith. There was a great crowd around Jesus with many coming into contact with Him yet only one of them received a miracle. Only the one who touched Him in faith? Let us touch Him in faith as we sing, pray and worship in His presence today.

The life of faith is the only way to the abundant life Christ has provided for us. But is it not incredible how we can be in God’s awesome Presence and yet not be affected by His mighty power? This is only possible because we are too pre-occupied with fear, doubts and unbelief. Instead of believing the Word of God we believe what is contrary to His Word. Faith is the only thing that really impresses God because faith believes God. Many people, however, are only willing to believe if they would have the evidence. “Seeing is believing,” declares the world and even many members of the Church today would rather see to believe than have faith in what God says.