Through The Roof:: Luke 5:18-28
April 22nd, 2006
Dave Mertz
I was in high school when I first heard the account of the group of friends who wanted to bring their paralyzed buddy to Jesus. I was struck both then and now again by the heart, resolve,creativity and perseverance that these friends exhibited as they sought to bring their friend to Christ. Firstly, their friend had a need to be healed and they recognized with their eyes of faith that Jesus was the one to heal him. Their resolve to bring him to Jesus not only displayed their own faith, but also the the healing power of the Great Physician.
Because of the magnitude of the crowd, they could not get near enough to Jesus to have him attend to their friend. Not to be turned away, they formulated a strategy to overcome the obstacle of the crowd and got up in order to get down. (I wonder what expression jesus had as He looked up to see these folks dismantling the roof while he was speaking.) Others might have turned away when they saw the crowd and decided to come back another time. But these friends seized the moment, got creative, persevered and put feet to their faith.
The response of Christ set the religious leaders on their heels as they took issue with the One who heals. Once again, Jesus seized the opportunity to not only meet the needs of the man’s physical maladies, but to also display His power as the One who can wash away our sins and provide us with salvation.
Lord, help me first see and recognize Your power to heal and to forgive. And let my faith be so quick and sure that I can know…and then go to You. May I also have the sesitivity to those who are in need around me that I would not only notice, but seek to bring them to the One who is able to help restore them. Grant me the heart to help, as well as the resolve, creativity, and perseverance to serve in a way that they would be ministered to and You would be honored and glorified.
**Just a note, if you haven’t read Matt’s recent entry about “leaving it all”, you should. That’s a good one. The theme continues with a tax collector named Levi… leaving it all behind.
April 25th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
i have occasionally wondered what would happen if someone barged in on a church service like this. how fast do you think the ushers would escort the interrupter away? or would they? would the person be shuffled to the side until a more opportune time, or would they receive what they needed when they came forward in the middle of the usic, or in the middle of Brett speaking? I just wonder, I am not making any kind of accusation of FBC or any other church I have attended. I am just wondering.
I am sure the listeners were ready to shove these men and their stretcher-bound friend away with the quickness! much like the disciples wanted to do with children and bothersome women in crowds!
April 26th, 2006 at 8:04 am
I believe that it is in “In His Steps”, by Charles Sheldon, where he describes his experience of preaching in church on a Sunday morning, and having a transient person walk in, come to the front of the church, and pass out on the floor right in front of the pulpit. He took tha man into his home and cared for him for quite a long time, never knowing who he was or where he came from. THAT is how we all should definitely respond, as you might guess.
In my personal life, I have seen, on several occasions, homeless people enter church during the service, slowly walk to the front, and conspicuously seat themselves. The worshippers tend to respond in a variety of ways. Some will clearly squirm in their seats and pray that the person somehow quickly disappear. But I an happy to report that there is always someone who heeds the prompting of the Spirit, gets up from their seat to go sit next to them, and takes that person into their care to help them with their needs afterwards. In my personal experience, the Kingdom of God has always responded quite nicely, and I have always been blessed to watch it in action. But I am also called to remember that times come when I am “tapped on the shoulder” by the Spirit and called into action, and I need to be obedient to that calling and step out to help the person in need.
Blessings to you!