Disability as a Challenge and Not a Crisis: The Jesus Model

abstract

Throughout the pages of the Bible, one encounters references to disabilities, impairments, and blemishes of all sorts affecting human beings. In the Hebrew Bible as well as the New Testament, disability is equated with disease and illness. It is observable that some biblical passages have created a negative impression concerning disability and have undesirable consequences in the way people with disabilities (PWD) have and are being treated throughout the world. In the Bible, disability has been associated with sin, punishment for wrongdoing and an expression of God's wrath against the victims or their parents. However, Jesus offers a new paradigm and a new perspective on disability. Throughout his ministry, Jesus sets out to engage with PWD and impairments and to offer them a liberative gospel and service to meet their needs. While he has the ability to transform disabilities back to normality, there is a hidden message in his approach to the whole concept of disability. My conviction is that he sees disability as a challenge that can be overcome, but not a crisis. In his ministry, he places PWD at the center and hence demonstrates a paradigm shift with regard to the way they are treated. Therefore, if the church, and all people in the world today, could adopt the Jesus model of caring and engaging with PWD, we would reach a stage where, like everyone else, PWD will have access to everything that is available to people without disabilities. The Jesus model eradicates barriers between PWD and those without and says that everyone is a child of God well-deserving equal treatment. Adopting such a model would mean that PWD will no longer suffer discrimination and marginalization based on their disability. In this article, I endeavour to give a general overview, albeit briefly, of biblical perspectives on disability, assess Jesus's ministry and engagement with PWD, and suggest that Jesus offers a model that can be adopted for the betterment of the lives of PWD.

KEYWORDS:

• disability studies
• New Testament
• Old Testament