God’s Grace to reach out to the Disabled from Luke 18:35-43
Gospel
of Luke is one of the prominent and important Gospels in the New Testament
which is concerned about lost and least ones in the society. Luke’s Gospel always projects and gives more importance
to unauthorized people in the society. Luke has message to all kinds of people
in the society, Like visually challenged person, women, children, crippled
persons, people living with disabilities and etc. This Gospel is fully filled
with accuracy, balanced sentences and distinguished literary works. At the
outset Luke addresses to Theophilus.
However Luke did not intend the Gospel merely for theophilus but
undoubtedly wrote it for gentile converts in general. Hence he gives numerous episodes of the
Gentile converts.
Now
I am going to deal about the miracle of Jesus which has occurred on the way to
Jericho. This particular passage focuses, primarily an Christological focus
which the ‘Son of David’. This incident has been occurred in the outskirt of
Jericho. Names are unusual in Gospel
episodes, so both the location on the outskirts of Jericho and the name of the
visually challenged person is bartimaeus have been seen as marks of later
development.
Jericho
was the first city of the Jordan to be conquered by the Israelites under Joshua
in Old Testament times which is mentioned in Joshua 2:3. In New Testament times, it was a rich and
flourishing town, having a considerable trade and filled with palm trees. There
are different pen names have been given to Jericho such as fenced city; city of
fragrance and etc. It was one of the
modern cities in those times. When Jesus on the way to Jerusalem, he visited
Jericho, because, Jericho is one of the ways which connects Jerusalem, so he
preferred this way to go Jerusalem. When he entered into the Jericho, he was
crowded with people and going to Jerusalem. This incident has been mentioned in
all three Gospels, Mathew 20:30, Mark 10:46 and Luke 18:35
The
writer of the Gospel used different Greek terms to refer the poor like penne, tochos and anawin. Particularly
in this chapter, Luke used Greek term tochos
which means beggar. This blind person could be categorized as beggar. The
writer wanted to show his identity and profession of a person. This poor
visually challenged man sat by the wayside, begging. It doesn’t seem that he
was not only person was sitting there, other men also sitting and begging. The people were rushing, shouting and making
noise over there. Hearing the noise of a multitude passing by, he asked what
it’s happening here. Those who do not have sight find things better use of
their hearing and asking questions nearby people, this man is not exceptional
from these. From this passage I want to
highlight three things firstly.
Recognition
He
was a courageous man. He had courage in his mind, but people were asking him to
keep quiet. He was asking to the people what’s happening here. They said Jesus of
Nazareth is passing by. Suddenly he recognized Jesus as Jesus of Nazareth. The
Hebrew word for Nazerite is Nazir
which means one who had taken a vow of consecration. The term Nazareth not only
affirms the human identity of Jesus but it also speaks about the Nazarite vow.
The Nazarite signifies that Jesus was fully separated for God’s mission. This
man recognized Jesus, without any hesitation he tries to call him. When I was
thinking about this incident, one story was striking me, there was a person
named Archie, he was small and 4 year old child he had one elder brother and
one older sister. Three of them planned to go swimming pool, they started by
walking, where his brother and sister were walkinq```g fast, as he could not
walk fast as they walked, somehow they reached place and swimming in the water,
but Archie did not know how to swim, he was standing aside these two making fun
of him. Afterwards, they came and wanted
to climb a mountain.
This
time Archie walks fast like them. At certain point, one voice was heard, they
realized that is wolf, they were feared, frustrated and panicked. Except Archie,
two of them hid behind the tree.
Suddenly wolf came and trying to attack him, he does not know what to
do. Suddenly he thought if I cry loudly this wolf will get rid of this place
with courage, he was crying without space, then that wolf has come to know as
if this man would kill him. Archie faced
what he feared and learned how to be strong.
Likewise this visually challenged man had courage in his mind, that he
would be healed by Jesus. People were shouting at him to keep quiet, but he did
not feel ashamed of this and recognized the presence of Jesus. Moreover he had
courage that Jesus Would recognize him. In order for us to understand this
episode it is an important to look into the overall theology of Luke. Luke highlights
his theology in this chapter, ‘Good News to the poor’. Luke primarily relates
Jesus’ mission to the poor
Reaction
Secondly
reaction takes place in this passage. As soon as he recognized Jesus, he
attempted to reach out to Jesus by calling the name, Son of David, have mercy
on me. Why did the blind man call Jesus, Son of David? The title son of David
is a messianic title used to depict the royal lineage of Davidic Messiah, Jesus
expected, that messiah would come in the time of David. Luke’s use of the word
resonates with his notice that, Joseph was from the Son of David and the
promise at Jesus’ birth that the Lord God will give to him the throne of his
ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his
kingdom there will be no end. This blind man’s use of this title also prepares
the readers for the royal overtones of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. He tried to
catch the attention of Jesus but people told him to keep quiet. Again he cried
out and said Son of David, Have mercy on me! Here the Gospel writer used Greek
Word Krazo which means cry out. He
cried for his recovery. He thought most
probably that Jesus would listen and heal his blind. He does not bother about what others were
saying, but he was confident and courageous to get healing from Jesus.
Most
of the times, we believe, people living with disabilities don’t have courage
and confidence in their lives but actually they are more stronger and confident
than us, like wise this poor visually challenged man, had confidence, I would
get healing from Jesus. At this time I want to share one of the incidents, that
has happened few weeks ago, I think you might have seen it in the face book and
what’s app that is, one visually challenged woman named Beno Zephine, from
rural village, she has been appointed as higher official in Indian
government. While she was trying to get
the job, People said different things about her and she was discouraged by
them, saying as a person without vision, how she would be appointed as higher
officials in Indian government and it will be shame for us. But she did not lose her confident, but she
had confident and got succeeded what she wanted to be. My dear friends, we should have clear mind to
understand and support the people who are living with disability. They too have
courage and confidence in their lives. This poor visually challenged man had
confidence, Jesus would heal me and I will be witness to him, he reacted to get
that. It is not clear whether the blind perceived this implication or not.
However, his reorganization of Jesus as the Son of David is significant in this
situation.
Restoration
Finally we can see in this passage, Restoration
takes place. After hearing this visually challenged man’s voice, Jesus did not
go further; he turned and asked him what shall I do for you? Or what do you
want from me? He said that, I want to see again. Here restoration takes place.
This blind man was not blind from birth itself but he might have lost his
vision earlier stage. That’s why he said I want to see again (in verse 41).
Then Jesus said, let your wish to be fulfilled, he got vision. Jesus consoling
this person to get consolidate and stronger in the society. He had compassion and empathized himself with
him. Here in the mission of Jesus was restorative. One of the functions of
Jesus’ mission was to restore the sight to the blind as recorded in Luke 4:18.
By restoring the eye sight Luke wanted to highlight the fulfillment of Jesus’
mission to the poor and blind. The mission of Jesus was fully committed to the
poor. All over the world, 10 percent of
people are living with disabilities, said by world health organization. From these most of them are discriminated and
thrown out from the society. And most of
them forced to do menial jobs and involving in begging. Most of the time, they are not visible in the
society. Out of these some of them only getting education from government, and
other organizations like Christian and non Christian institutions. As a
Christian theologians and pastors, what is our concern towards this, do we have
compassionate heart to look and care for them, and do we have eyes to see
what’s happening around us. We should have compassionate heart and serve for them
in their lives that will be greater and effective mission to them. They are not unambitious and unfocused
people; they too have ambition and focus in their hearts. Let us respect their
values and rights.
Conclusion
Let
me conclude one of the inspiring statements made by, Martin Luther king junior,
who fought for the emancipation for the black people in America, he said
“Darkness cannot drive out Darkness: Only Light can do that. Hate cannot drive
out hate: Only Love can do that. Love is the force capable of transforming an
enemy into Friend”. My dear friends, our God calls us to be a light and show
our Love to People Living with Disabilities. God’s grace is equal to everyone
without discrimination so, let us show, mercy and grace to the marginalized segments
in the society which would enlighten them to understand and realize God’s
presence through us. May the Triune Lord help and make us to be a channel to
reach out the discriminated ones in the society. Amen!
