As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
John 9:1-7
The disciples inquired who sinned—the man's parents or he in his mother's womb—that he should be born blind. No doubt they had seen this beggar many times before and may have reacted with the same kind of standoffish, theological inquisitiveness. What they saw in Jesus' response was hardly standoffish, and it clearly demonstrated the distance between He and the disciples in regards to responding to people's needs.
Jesus' responded with compassion, and not judgment.
Jesus marshaled His resources to grant sight to the beggar and claimed that the blindness was actually intended to provide a moment when God could be magnified through Jesus' compassionate touch.
We are so prone to be like the disciples—lacking a heart of compassion.
When we hear of trouble in someone's life, we are far more interested in the details and an analysis—of what, why, when, and where—than we are in finding out what we can do to reach out and help—showing compassion as Jesus did.
It's amazing what a listening ear, a prayer, a note, a hug, or a meal can mean to those who are suffering or are in need. If we would only learn to see life through God's eyes and show compassion that reflects the power of God's glory through us, we could have a far greater impact on those around us.
Living like Jesus requires real compassion.
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