When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:1-5 (NLT)
“Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” Mark 2:11-12 (NLT)
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34 (NLT)
For Reflection:
I read this passage and imagine what it was like to be one of the men that carried the paralyzed man. I sure would like to be the friend who triumphantly lowers the paralyzed man in front of Jesus for him to be healed and see the miracle unfold before my eyes. And then I wonder what it took to get there. How long had the friends known the paralyzed man? How long had this man been paralyzed? How long had he been longing for healing? Was he the one directing the men to bring him to Jesus or had he given up hope long ago and they were the ones who hoped Jesus could heal him? How many seemingly unanswered prayers to God had they prayed for this man asking for healing over the years? How many days did they care for their friend who couldn’t care for himself? How hard was it to push through crowds, climb on a roof, cut a hole and create a lowering mechanism all while carrying a man on a mat? I want to be the witness bearer to the miracle of Jesus. Am I also willing to be the long-suffering friend who continues to love, continues to hope, continues to push through the crowds and insist on Jesus for the sake of another? Mark says, “When Jesus saw their faith…” he forgave the man and healed him. Could he be implying that not only the faith of the paralyzed man, but the collective faith of the men that hoped and loved this man enough to carry him to Jesus is what healed him?
I think about the paralyzed man and then I think about a need, struggle or weakness of my own. I want to be an important friend helping those in need. I don’t want to be the needy one who is dependent on others. But what am I missing when I pretend I have it all together? When my own silent prayers run dry and I struggle to imagine restoration, what might I gain by revealing my paralysis to a friend? Someone who might peek over the obstacles and say, “I know you can’t see him right now, but that’s ok because I do. Jesus is here, he’s healing, he’s forgiving, he’s loving and performing miracles, let me share my faith, my hope and my love with you until you can experience him too.”
Let us pray:
Dear Jesus, I thank you for your holy community. I thank you that you have not made us to live alone, but have created us for community. I admit that I struggle with the vulnerability, the discomfort and hard work that is called for to love in the way that you love. Give me your generosity of heart to hold hope for others when they need it. Give me the humbleness required to allow others to hold hope for me when I need it. I thank you for and continue to pray for relationships and community in my life that will spur one another on towards you in faith, hope and love. Amen.
I wonder if I know someone who needs a friend to hold hope for them. Is there an action I could take to that end?
I wonder what need I have that I could allow others to hold hope for me in?
I wonder who could hold hope for me?*
*If no one comes to mind, Pastor Patti would love to be a person to talk to, to hold space for hard things and to hope with you.