Jesus performed amazing miracles, freeing people from long-standing, oppressive diseases. The blind were able to see. The deaf could hear. The lame could walk. The mute could speak. At least one of them had been born with his ailment (John 9:1), others had been oppressed for many years (Mark 5:25). Each miracle was a tremendous display of Jesus’ power. While the miracles may have piled up and potentially started to blur together, to the person who was healed, it had to be the most important moment of their lives. They were each given a new opportunity at life after having been helpless, miserable, and sometimes humbled to the point of being beggars (Luke 18:35).

Can you imagine what it was like for these individuals when they were first healed? What if the miracle had happened to you instead of them? If you had been born blind, what would you want to see once given sight? If you had been mute, what would you be certain to say? If you were the one who had been lame, where would you then go? If you were the one who was deaf, what would you seek out to hear?

I would hope that they each took advantage of the great gift that was given them. I also hope they heeded the warning Jesus once gave, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you” (John 5:14). They had been given so much, but clearly they could squander it. They could waste their opportunity and end up worse off for it. Wouldn’t it be a shame if the blind sought out pornography? If the mute chose to gossip? If the deaf listened to blasphemy and vile language? If the lame chose to go to drunken parties? How ungrateful and ungodly that would be!

It would be so much better if the blind instead sought to see God’s glorious works in order to better understand Him and praise Him. It would be better for the lame to go around the world and to be joined by the mute as they declared the great things God had done for them. The deaf would be wise to dedicate themselves to hearing the life-giving words of Jesus. These would be worthy things to do, don’t you think?

Now that I think about it, each of us has been gifted sight, hearing, speech, and mobility.  Just because we haven’t had it miraculously restored to us doesn’t make it any less a gift when we were born with these things. “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord (Ex. 4:11)?” God has given us this life with all of the abilities and opportunities that come with it. The question is, what are we choosing to do with these blessings? Are we making the most of our time or are we squandering the gifts of God?