Heroic Rescue - Who are you in this story?
A crowd gathers. They've heard stories in town, but people tend to embellish, so they want to see what's really going on. It could be nothing. Shoulder to shoulder, pressed in together, they stretch their necks and shush their children to see and hear the spectacle. Dust and other particles begin to fall in on them...an earthquake? Is the house being attacked? Men are shouting instructions in the distance...what's happening? Sunlight in the room that wasn't there before, one by one they begin to look up - there's a hole in the ceiling, and it's getting bigger?! There are people on the roof, taking it apart!
Today for possibly the millionth time, I read Luke 5:17-26. As I dissected it in my mind, I realized, there are so many assumptions I've made over the years, about this story. It's interesting, the blanks we fill in without recognizing that we're doing it. When you read for facts, there are very few. As a review of characters, we have:
The Pharisees - who traveled from every village, to observe; the passage says that they were "sitting there". They said nothing aloud that's mentioned, but their thoughts are revealed. Basically, they traveled from all over, to observe and criticize. Still, they got to witness God's glory,
The Paralyzed Man - who was carried, lowered, forgiven, and healed. Everything happened "to" him; he did nothing. His only activity or speech occur when he is healed; he grabs his stuff and goes home glorifying God. There is no mention of his own faith before the healing. There is no mention of anything he had done or even who he was, that others would show him the kindness to bring him to Jesus. An unacknowledged, yet passive role he played is that he was a vessel used, to allow Jesus to reveal his power to forgive and heal, and to cause others to glorify God. Though he did absolutely nothing, he got to participate in and benefit from, God's glory.
Some Men - First of all, I've always called these men "friends," but we don't actually know if they were friends of the paralyzed man. Maybe they were family, maybe they were friends, or maybe they were strangers, believers who saw him and knew there was someone who could help him. How far had they carried him? How long did they try to get him to Jesus before they determined that they needed to carry a man on a stretcher up to the roof and lower him through? I would think they'd try for awhile before they did something that drastic. How big was this house? How did they get up there, and pass the man up there? How long did all this take? Can you imagine the commotion, as all the people are pressing in to see and hear Jesus, then the noise, maybe some debris falling, as little by little an opening in the ceiling is getting bigger, they can hear the men communicating as they disassemble the roof. It took some time, I'd imagine, to create an opening big enough to lower a stretcher and avoid having a paralyzed man slide off. The story is told in such a succinct manner, we don't really stop to think about what an ordeal this must have been! We who have heard the parable our whole lives, probably imagine ladders and buzz saws to de-roof, a pulley system lowering a nice stretcher like our EMT's use, the paralyzed man strapped in according to safety regulations, an area marked off with tape and cones, designated as the removed roof parts zone. The point is, these men went to GREAT LENGTHS to get this paralyzed man to Jesus. They had to be determined and creative. Their reward was to see the man forgiven and healed, and to witness God's glory.
Who are you in this story? One who is paralyzed, maybe not physically, but paralyzed by fear, anxiety, insecurity, chronic pain, or crisis of faith? Do you feel helpless, completely dependent on the kindness of others? Seek out believers who are willing and able to carry you until you find healing that brings freedom. You can still be a vessel when you allow others to help, seek Jesus, let him do his work and reveal his glory through you. Be thankful, and tell of his goodness.
Or are you a Pharisee, someone who just wants to observe and process what you are seeing? Have you come this far just to observe? God can use you, too. Do you see the commotion around you? You can step in and be part of the miracle; feed people, look for tools, help lower the stretcher, guide people to a safe place while the stretcher is being lowered, prevent debris from harming others. Tell others what you have seen and experienced in the presence of Jesus.
Are you one of the "men," no need to have your name in lights, just seeing a need and taking that person to Jesus? Are you willing to go to whatever lengths necessary, ready to do the grunt work, asking for nothing in return? You too will be blessed, and you have a valuable testimony to share. Keep your eyes open for those who are not as capable or faith-filled as you, and continue to be His hands and feet.
One character in this story that you definitely shouldn't try to be, is JESUS. He is the only One who can forgive or heal. Do not try to be anyone's Savior. Don't reach outside your purview and try to fix what you can't. You will be perpetually stressed, discouraged and distracted, because none of us is equipped for, nor are we meant for, that role. Knowing him, bringing others to him, and facilitating the process however we can, that is our focus.
There are unmentioned characters in this account. The owner of the home (who hopefully has good insurance), who was willing to open his door to no telling how many people for no telling how long, to be part of the story. The crowd, pressed in together, hungry, needing to go to the bathroom or change a diaper, feet already hurting from the journey here, yet willing to stand for hours to have a moment with the Messiah. The wonderful thing about this event is that no matter who it was, the paralyzed, the curious, the cynical, or the faithful...anyone who was there, walked away from the encounter glorifying God and filled with awe.
These occurrences still take place. Encounters with Jesus happen every day. From the completely helpless person to the men on the roof, there is a place in the story for you if you choose to be part of it. Let Jesus be where you are, be available, be willing. No matter what your skill level or knowledge is, you can be a vessel to encounter God and reveal his glory.
Today for possibly the millionth time, I read Luke 5:17-26. As I dissected it in my mind, I realized, there are so many assumptions I've made over the years, about this story. It's interesting, the blanks we fill in without recognizing that we're doing it. When you read for facts, there are very few. As a review of characters, we have:
The Pharisees - who traveled from every village, to observe; the passage says that they were "sitting there". They said nothing aloud that's mentioned, but their thoughts are revealed. Basically, they traveled from all over, to observe and criticize. Still, they got to witness God's glory,
The Paralyzed Man - who was carried, lowered, forgiven, and healed. Everything happened "to" him; he did nothing. His only activity or speech occur when he is healed; he grabs his stuff and goes home glorifying God. There is no mention of his own faith before the healing. There is no mention of anything he had done or even who he was, that others would show him the kindness to bring him to Jesus. An unacknowledged, yet passive role he played is that he was a vessel used, to allow Jesus to reveal his power to forgive and heal, and to cause others to glorify God. Though he did absolutely nothing, he got to participate in and benefit from, God's glory.
Some Men - First of all, I've always called these men "friends," but we don't actually know if they were friends of the paralyzed man. Maybe they were family, maybe they were friends, or maybe they were strangers, believers who saw him and knew there was someone who could help him. How far had they carried him? How long did they try to get him to Jesus before they determined that they needed to carry a man on a stretcher up to the roof and lower him through? I would think they'd try for awhile before they did something that drastic. How big was this house? How did they get up there, and pass the man up there? How long did all this take? Can you imagine the commotion, as all the people are pressing in to see and hear Jesus, then the noise, maybe some debris falling, as little by little an opening in the ceiling is getting bigger, they can hear the men communicating as they disassemble the roof. It took some time, I'd imagine, to create an opening big enough to lower a stretcher and avoid having a paralyzed man slide off. The story is told in such a succinct manner, we don't really stop to think about what an ordeal this must have been! We who have heard the parable our whole lives, probably imagine ladders and buzz saws to de-roof, a pulley system lowering a nice stretcher like our EMT's use, the paralyzed man strapped in according to safety regulations, an area marked off with tape and cones, designated as the removed roof parts zone. The point is, these men went to GREAT LENGTHS to get this paralyzed man to Jesus. They had to be determined and creative. Their reward was to see the man forgiven and healed, and to witness God's glory.
Who are you in this story? One who is paralyzed, maybe not physically, but paralyzed by fear, anxiety, insecurity, chronic pain, or crisis of faith? Do you feel helpless, completely dependent on the kindness of others? Seek out believers who are willing and able to carry you until you find healing that brings freedom. You can still be a vessel when you allow others to help, seek Jesus, let him do his work and reveal his glory through you. Be thankful, and tell of his goodness.
Or are you a Pharisee, someone who just wants to observe and process what you are seeing? Have you come this far just to observe? God can use you, too. Do you see the commotion around you? You can step in and be part of the miracle; feed people, look for tools, help lower the stretcher, guide people to a safe place while the stretcher is being lowered, prevent debris from harming others. Tell others what you have seen and experienced in the presence of Jesus.
Are you one of the "men," no need to have your name in lights, just seeing a need and taking that person to Jesus? Are you willing to go to whatever lengths necessary, ready to do the grunt work, asking for nothing in return? You too will be blessed, and you have a valuable testimony to share. Keep your eyes open for those who are not as capable or faith-filled as you, and continue to be His hands and feet.
One character in this story that you definitely shouldn't try to be, is JESUS. He is the only One who can forgive or heal. Do not try to be anyone's Savior. Don't reach outside your purview and try to fix what you can't. You will be perpetually stressed, discouraged and distracted, because none of us is equipped for, nor are we meant for, that role. Knowing him, bringing others to him, and facilitating the process however we can, that is our focus.
There are unmentioned characters in this account. The owner of the home (who hopefully has good insurance), who was willing to open his door to no telling how many people for no telling how long, to be part of the story. The crowd, pressed in together, hungry, needing to go to the bathroom or change a diaper, feet already hurting from the journey here, yet willing to stand for hours to have a moment with the Messiah. The wonderful thing about this event is that no matter who it was, the paralyzed, the curious, the cynical, or the faithful...anyone who was there, walked away from the encounter glorifying God and filled with awe.
These occurrences still take place. Encounters with Jesus happen every day. From the completely helpless person to the men on the roof, there is a place in the story for you if you choose to be part of it. Let Jesus be where you are, be available, be willing. No matter what your skill level or knowledge is, you can be a vessel to encounter God and reveal his glory.
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| Photo by Daniel Tausis on Unsplash |
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