You've made your bed...

Listen along here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/249da6c1/you-made-your-...

I was up most of the night, watching the presidential election returns in the USA. For days I had been praying that God would keep the elections honest and fair; after that, I entrusted the rest to God, knowing he could use either candidate for himself in the hearts and souls of Americans--though one set of policies I certainly felt more keenly about than the other.

Wiping sleep from my eyes today, I found my place once again in the fifth chapter of Luke's gospel, where a lot has already transpired. Following Jesus into yet another town around the sparkling Sea of Galilee, we learn more from his teaching: what was most important to him, and the great value Jesus placed on relationships. Friends, we need to sit up and take notice! These things are no les important to us today.

But first, a prayer: “Dear Father, as we read, slow us down—help us learn what Jesus saw as our biggest need. And God . . . would you give us friends like these guys?”

Luke writes: On one of those days, as he [Jesus] was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 

And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 

And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 

When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.” Luke 5.17-26, ESV

Step back now and let's take a look at just the facts, ma’am.  

We have a paraplegic whose friends care so much about his condition, they pick him up and carry him to the One who can change his life forever by healing him.  (just what distance they carry him the Bible does not give)

Upon arrival, they encounter a big problem—the house where Jesus is teaching is so crowded, they cannot get anywhere near him.  Think, think, think. What to do.  

Imagine with me as these guys look at one another--‘Oy! What do we do now?’  Think, think, think.  One of them states the obvious— ‘friends, there is no way for Jesus to see him unless we get him in front of him.’  And then Shlomo1 says, ‘I know this is crazy, but what if we cut a hole in the roof and lower him down?’  

'Are you nuts, Man?  How will the roof get repaired—why, it will have to be a huge hole!  And what about all the dirt and twigs that fall down on Jesus’ head?  What if he gets angry and will not even look at Asher2 as a result?’  Dilemma, for sure.

Yes, it is interesting to contemplate what might have been said between them as they wrestle with some possible way to get their friend to the Healer. 

O, to have friends like these in our lives, who love sacrificially. What faith in Jesus.  

We have to assume that Asher (our paralytic) also had faith that Jesus could heal him or he would not have gone along with their crazy plan, as they awkwardly lower his bed down--first one side lowers with a lurch, then the other, into a group of strangers. Hmmmm.  

Friends, their faith spoke volumes to the Lord.  

But as with the leper Jesus just recently healed, Jesus is not interested in a partial healing--he wants to see Asher fully restored.  After all, what good would it be to save the man from his paralysis for several years if his sins keep him from the Father forever?  So, he first forgives the man his sins, and then heals him of his paralysis, setting him free in this life and the next.  Amazing.

I just know too many people who are bound up by their sins - things they have done that can never be undone.

Last night, in an unexpected conversation, I looked deep into the eyes of a young man, a stranger in conversation, carrying the weight of decisions he has made that he wishes he could undo. Could we just talk plainly for a moment? This man is not alone.

'You know, Devan, these things to which you refer, are forgivable by God... could you give them to him, ask him to forgive you and set you free from the weight you are carrying?' His dark eyes were orbs into a deep soul. 'He will, you know.'

Two thousand years after the paralytic who Jesus healed, he yet forgives us of the sins we have committed against him, even against our own consciences.

Jesus shows us in this event that while we have made our bed and now must lie in it - we must come willing to be healed, and also desirous of being set free and cleansed from our sins. That is because he came to set the captive free - that's you, that's me.

And that is the best news ever.

Same God - listen, watch, trust this God. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaFzIDmQWhk

Praying this whets your appetite for more of him,

Christine

Luke, #21

1 - Of course, we do not know his name or his friends' but calling him Solomon makes him kinda real

2 - No name given, but come on, let's step into the story.... these were real people who had names!

[pictured above, looking at the Sea of Galilee through vines outside of Capernaum... areazing!]