Parents – what are you saying?

TEXT:

‘“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.’ – John 9:3 NLT

THOUGHT:

The healings of the Blind Man ¹ and the Lame Man at the Temple ² are remarkable miracles, but in this teaching I want to concentrate on the role of their parents and how they might have reacted at the birth and subsequent upbringing of their child.

• The joy of conception

“I’m going to have a baby.” “That’s wonderful news!” No pre-natal scans, just the wait to discover the sex and health of the baby, unless of course God had revealed it specifically as with Mary the mother of Jesus. ³

• The misery at birth

Instead of a bouncing, healthy baby, something’s wrong – blind and lame. The disappointment and confusion, for children are a gift from the Lord. ⁴ These parents would have hesitated from going to the temple with a thanksgiving offering. They knew that the priest was likely to say, “This is the result of sin, it is God’s curse on you and your family.” Such wrong teaching leaves parents angry and confused, especially if they cannot think of anything they have done or are doing to warrant such a statement. Yet this teaching was prevalent, hence the disciples’ question, ‘Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?’ The Pharisees later told the blind man, ‘You were completely born in sins,’ such was their blinkered thinking.

• The difficulty during growing up

Parents who believed their child’s condition was the result of sin and under a curse, would find it difficult to maintain a loving upbringing. Countless thousands do a wonderful job raising children with disability, but many do not. For the child, questions would continually rise, “Why am I like this? Why am I different? Does God love me? How can I worship a God who has done this to me?”

• In God’s plans there was an answer coming

To the question “Who sinned?” Jesus replied, ‘This happened so that the power of God could be seen in him.’ God was going to use that disability to show His power and glory. Acts chapter 3 records the healing of the man crippled from birth. Aged over 40, he was still being carried every day to the Temple begging area to raise money to live. What did his parents tell him as he was growing up? Were they still alive as the Blind man’s parents were? Perhaps like Jabez ⁵ he had been continually told that his birth had brought misery and pain. Did he live with guilt thinking he was to blame for the family problems? Yet all along God had an answer coming!

Perhaps in those early days, family and friends had prayed for a miracle, but now hope had long gone, leaving despair and unbelief to rule their prayers. Many children with disability bring such great joy to their parents and families, accomplishing great things in life, but nothing can really take away the pain in parents’ hearts of wishing it had all been so different. Yet as we see in both of these miracles, the passing of the years did not prevent the answer God had planned from coming to pass!

What parents should tell their children when things have not worked out the way they wanted

• That they are not the result of sin or curse or a mistake, because imperfect lives often reproduce imperfections
• That God loves them and always will, and they do too
• That life is short and God promises a new body that is perfect in every way for everyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus
• Not to turn away from God, for in His plan and purpose they could be the recipient of a miracle.

Remember, it is much harder for the child to become a believer if their parents have moved away from the faith. Thank God, the lame man was laid outside the Temple, not the pub! Religious bigotry may have prevented him from entering God’s house, but once he was healed, that was the first place he made for – walking, leaping and praising God!

• Because they are loved, they too can love others

Not to look at the healthy with envy and bitterness, but to bless, remembering that God is working all things together for good, despite their disability.

There is no guarantee of a miracle, just the possibility, but it is better to live and die in faith, rather than to depart from the faith as countless thousands have done.

Thank God we all can start each day with a thankful heart in anticipation that we will hear those words, “In the name of Jesus be healed!”

 

1 – John 9:1-38           2 – Acts 3:1-10           3 – Luke 1:31              4 – Psalm 127:3

5 – 1 Chronicles 4:9-10