Scripture:
Mark 2:1-5 NKJV
[1] And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. [2] Immediately many gathered together so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. [3] Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. [4] And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. [5] When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
Observation:
It never took long when Jesus showed up to pack out a house. Everyone wanted to hear what HE had to say. HE was speaking directly from the Father… who wouldn’t want to hear HIM. As HE came to this house in Capernaum, people started gathering around HIM, eager to listen to whatever fishing story or seed-planting lesson HE had to offer. They wanted their lives to change, and HIS words had and still have that life-changing power. As they gathered around, no one paid attention to the fact that there was a paralytic man who needed healing. Awe struck struck by HIS words and teaching… not only did they not notice the man, but they did not see his friends’ attempts to get him in front of Jesus. Desperately seeking healing for his condition. He and his friends were unwilling to just give up. Climbing to the roof of the house and finding the location where Jesus would be sitting, they began to tear back the roof and lower the man down right in front of the Messiah. I picture the faces of those sitting around Jesus as the debris from the roof started falling, looking up and wondering what in all of creation is going on. Then, being lowered by ropes by his friends here comes the paralytic man. Slowly being laid at the feet of Jesus. Knowing that HE had the right words needed to give life to his legs again. As Jesus saw what was going on, HE took notice of their faith and spoke the 4 words that brought healing to so many… your sins are forgiven.
Application:
How refreshing it is to know that our sins can be forgiven. The word that comes to mind here in all this is desperate… I remember it… when I was so desperate for something different that I would stop at nothing to get to the feet of Jesus. I didn’t necessarily know what I wanted. I just knew I didn’t want what I had. I was broken and in need of spiritual healing. My life was in pieces, and I couldn’t fix it. Calling a friend of mine, he dug a hole in the roof and lowered me to the feet of Jesus. My question for you is this… are you desperate for Jesus? In your mind, what would be too far? What obstacles would stop you from making every effort to sit at HIS feet? I hope that we all stay desperate for HIM, so desperate that we would go to any length to have an encounter with HIM. HE has the life-giving words that can heal our brokenness. If we will just make the effort to get inside HIS presence.
Prayer:
Father, let our desperation never go away. Help us to always see you as our source of healing, whether it be physical or spiritual. You are the answer to all our problems. We desperately need to be in your presence. Heal us from our brokenness. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.