Divine love that stands along with and helps the differently abled people is found in the Bible. ‘God forgives all sins and heals all diseases’ (Ps. 103: 3), is a comforting word of God. The ministry of Christ begins against the background that a weak mind and body is a challenge, curse and the fruit of the works of a person. In those days, the deaf, dump and the lame were rejected from the society. They are untouchables and unholy. But the New Testament says that no one should be labelled as unholy (Acts 10:28). People having such infirmities had no right to live in the main stream of life. Christ has empowered the marginalized and the neglected in life and brought them to the main stream of life, giving them a complete and perfect personality. Jesus has never performed wonders and healings to attract any one to him. But he has done it for the liberation and freedom of the people. The healing that Jesus gave was not simply a physical one nevertheless, it was social and spiritual too. Therefore, every member in the Church should take responsibility to be one with those who are mentally and physically challenged.
1. God with the differently abled people (Ex. 4:10-17)
God has strengthened the weak Moses. He has encouraged him saying, “I am with you”. Though Moses said that he is not eloquent and he is slow of speech and tongue, God has called him for the ministry. God made Moses to understand that He has created the deaf and dump and the blind (Ex.4:11). God has used Moses in spite of his deficiency. God’s oneness is with the people and society, who are challenged and entry to the main stream of the society is prohibited. The godly character of David is visible in his act of allowing the lame Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, who is the son of king Saul to stay in the king’s palace and eat food at his table. The divine character that brings closer to the table of God, the people, who are challenged due to various reasons is found in the whole Bible (2 Sam. 9:1-13; Ps. 38). He could see a God, who heals physically and mentally affected people in the Old Testament period in many places (2 Chro. 7:14; Ex. 15:26; Jer. 33:6; Ps. 103:3, 107:20; Is. 53:3-5).
2. Empower the weak (Acts 3:1-10)
The beggar aged more than 40 years who was sittings and begging at the temple gate called Beautiful was empowered by Peter and John in the name of Jesus Christ. He leaped and entered into the temple for worship. The Church of God has a call to empower the weak. We should strengthen the weak hands and legs. The roads should be leveled so that the lame will not get worse (Heb. 12:12, 13; Gal. 6:1).
3. The Miracle: Oneness with the differently abled people (Matt.17:14-21).
The healings and miracles what Jesus did was not simply for physical health. In Matthew 17:14-21 we find a broken hearted father who runs first to the disciples of Jesus and finally to Jesus himself. The disciples could not heal his son. But Jesus healed him. Then Jesus revealed the secret of the healing. If one has faith, even the mountains can be moved (Matt. 14:20). Jesus Christ performed a lot of signs and miracles for people during his earthly ministry. We know that Jesus has strengthened many men and women who have been physically and mentally challenged. None of the miracles Jesus has ever performed to attract people towards him, but rather he did it for the deliverance of the people. Therefore, Jesus has asked them not to tell it to others (Mk. 1:44, 45). After healing of the leper, it is said that Jesus has warned him strictly not to tell it to anyone. But Jesus has asked him to show himself to the priest and make the offering according to Law of Moses for their witness. Jesus has aimed at the goodness of this person here. Jesus has never used himself for his personal praise.