These blog posts include some Biblical and theological thoughts in the area of additional needs or disability, but could be interesting to anyone of any faith or none!
Jesus noticed her: Disabled people can often become ‘anonymous’, ‘ignored’, ‘overlooked’, maybe even ‘invisible’. I wonder how many other people saw her and looked away, hoping they didn’t catch her eye. Jesus didn’t, Jesus noticed her. Do we sometimes ignore a disabled person in our community, avoiding their look?
It is quite possible that this woman’s daughter also has Epilepsy, which without any treatment at the time would have been terrifying and for the child could lead to physical injury, mental disability, and possibly death.
There are theories that suggest that the Biblical character Isaac, son of Abraham and Sarah, may have been disabled. That one of the most well-known characters of the Old Testament, through whom God delivered the great Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 15:4-5), and who was an ancestor of Jesus, might have had additional needs, is really significant.
I’ve been thinking more about whether Jesus was actually disabled himself, and what we might learn from what the Gospels tell us about that experience. Here’s a few things that arose from this musing…
Zechariah’s family and friends learned how to understand his different forms of communication during the months when he couldn’t speak. We can do the same for the children, young people, or adults that we are journeying with. By adapting our communication to meet the needs and communication styles of those we know, we can enter more fully into their world, understanding them and what they are sharing with us.
If Isaac, one of the most well-known characters of the Old Testament, and ancestor of Jesus, had additional needs or disabilities, what does that say to us today?
‘Relentless’ is a great word to use for him; it describes how Rob Burrow played his rugby, and how in these last few years he picked up life, tucked it under his arm, and charged head down towards the try line with it. He probably kicked it over the goal for the extra two points too.
Jesus didn’t treat Zacchaeus differently because of his short stature, he didn’t talk to him like a child, or pity him, or ridicule him. He noticed Zacchaeus, he looked into Zacchaeus’ heart and soul, he called out to him, he saved him and transformed his life. Zacchaeus wasn’t physically taller as a consequence of his encounter with Jesus, but he was a better man in the ways that mattered most.
Malchus was the last person that we have record of that Jesus physically healed during his ministry on earth, and in this act of healing he taught us much that is relevant to us today...
Sometimes I get asked why we should make the effort to reach out to children and young people with additional needs, when this sometimes means we have to balance their needs against the needs of the rest of the group. I always say the same thing… Jesus told us to go after the 1.
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Special Education Teaching Resources, Sensory Stories and SEND Information
The Additional Needs Blogfather 