Climb Every Mountain

The Word is first...

"Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”" (Luke 5:18-20, NIV)

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Yes, yes you are right. This is the same passage today as yesterday. It's no mistake and it is by intention that I continue to 'wring out' these verses. Though I've read this passage before, this time it speaks loudly to me and I find that "there's gold in them there hills" that is waiting to be mined out. So we visit it again today.

In response to my post yesterday, my friend and mentor Dr. Bill Berry (the right reverend:)) commented about our responsibility to 'carry our corner' (of the mat). He had recently heard a sermon on this topic and could see the parallels between what I wrote and what the preacher had preached. I like that concept of 'carrying my corner' and share it with you in hopes that it will speak into your life as well.

But I will not expound on that point today as it has been done. What I really want to examine today is verse 19. It is important to keep this verse in context so as to remember the situation. A group of men, presumably friends, carried their paralytic friend (on a mat) to see Jesus. They were doing this in the hope of Jesus performing a miracle in the form of healing their afflicted friend. Upon arriving at the house where Jesus was teaching, they discovered a great throng of people. Scripture tells us that it was the Pharisees and teachers of the law from all throughout the land that were in that place. So there they were, friend in tow, shoulders likely burning from carrying this man on his mat, hoping to get to Jesus.

Let us pickup now with V19 "When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus."

We read that verse and likely give it no notice whatsoever. We accept it as a matter of fact, an observation reported by a witness and look no further into it because we are anticipating what is coming. As an aside, I submit that we do this throughout our lives in everyday situations and that we miss the divine that is in the seemingly mundane. I choose to tarry on this verse and offer these four observations for your consideration.

As mentioned yesterday, this 'band of brothers' carrying their dependent brother came seeking Jesus with expectations. They had 'heard' rumors and reports of his healing power and came not to see for themselves as casual observers but rather they brought their friend as an intended recipient of Jesus' grace. I believe that most of the people I come into contact with on a daily basis have heard of Jesus. For some, they have heard rumors, others have heard stories and many have heard the good news of Jesus Christ. But for many, the stories of Jesus are just that, stories. They draw no distinction between "the brothers Grimm" and the Apostle Paul. Yet there are others that when they hear the name of Jesus, something within them stirs and responds as though encountering something familiar. It is like when the unborn baby John jumped within the womb of Elizabeth with Mary, pregnant with Jesus, came into proximity. In fact, for those people, there is an unborn baby of sorts that is jumping within them when they come into proximity of Jesus. These people, when invited to church or when 'brought to church' as it were, come with expectations. They don't fully understand them and probably cannot articulate them but nevertheless they are real. Each of us, seeker and believer alike, have expectations of Jesus just the same as "some men" carrying a paralytic on a mat.

These men along with their friend encountered obstacles in their path on the way to Jesus. For them, it was a great crowd of people blocking entrance into the house. I can imagine that they went from door to door, peeking over shoulders, looking through windows, trying to find a way to get through the crowd. I can imagine their frustration and concern as they realized that the way was completely blocked. As I consider the seekers who come to church with expectations, hoping to meet Jesus, I realize that there are myriad obstacles to them as well. Perhaps it is a look of judgment or condemnation from someone in the parking lot, perhaps it is a perfunctory greeting at the door, perhaps it is the perception of the assemblage of people on the inside who have something in common with each other and nothing in common with the seeker. Maybe it's the music; too old-fashioned or too modern; too loud or not loud enough. Perhaps it is the conviction of their sinfulness. Perhaps it is the requirement that they die to themselves and rely on Jesus. Perhaps it is the voice of condemnation; satan at work in their lives trying to deceive and dissuade. Whatever the obstacle, they are everywhere. For some, they shrink from the obstacle and turn away; others wait for the obstacle to be removed; still others work to shove the obstacle aside or attempt to climb over it. Some, go from door to door looking for another way in.

But these men with their paralytic friend were not dissuaded from their task. Though confronted with an intimidating obstacle (let's not forget the crowd consisted of the religious leaders) these men resolved to overcome. They were not to be deterred or denied. Instead of being crushed, what rose up in them was tenacity and perseverance. Seeing that the doors were blocked, seeing that the windows were inaccessible, they resorted to creativity. V19... "When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles..." Carrying their friend up onto the roof (can you imagine how hard that was?) they took a chance. In so doing, they had to take apart a piece of what had been built. They had to 'break the rules' as it were so that their friend would have a chance to see Jesus and be healed. Perhaps there is a lesson for us all to learn in this, that sometimes we have to get creative in bringing people to Jesus. Sometimes we have to tear apart some of what has been built or 'break the rules' so that someone afflicted by sin can come to the master and be healed. We have to help remove the obstacles between the seeker and the healer. In order for them to exit the tomb of their sinful existence, we have to roll away the stone so that they can be resurrected into a life in Christ.

V19 continues "lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus." Oh my gosh, can you imagine the audacity? Can you imagine the outrage of the Pharisees and religious teachers that their time with Jesus might be interrupted by a cripple? Talk about line-breakers! These men, the friends of the paralytic, had overcome every obstacle and delivered their friend into the very presence of Jesus "right in front of Jesus." This was an audacious gambit on their part; to interrupt the teaching that was taking place; to take center-stage or to steal the 'lime light.' But I say that it is not the teaching that is important... it is the reaching! Jesus was in no way offended by their boldness, rather I imagine that he smiled to himself and perhaps chuckled at the lengths to which those men had gone to bring just one man to be in front of Jesus. Friends, I tell you that we NEED to be like those men in our efforts to bring the seeker into the kingdom. There are times when it is appropriate to teach but it is ALWAYS appropriate to reach.

So I challenge you today, as The Spirit has challenged me in this study, to have expectations when bringing your afflicted friend to Jesus for healing. I challenge you to be tenacious, persistent and to persevere and to be diligent in overcoming every obstacle. I implore you to resort to every means necessary to get that person in front of Jesus. Don't be afraid of what others may think, don't stand on protocol or tradition. Get the job done to the best of your ability, that is the mark of true friendship.

Even as I typed those words I realized that some of you reading this are not the men carrying the mat but instead are the afflicted person in need of healing. To you I say, COME. Come to church with expectations, ignore and fight off every obstacle that will assuredly appear in your path. Look past the crowds and the preconceived notions. Push your way past the back rows and come forward all the way to the front. Don't worry about what those around you may be thinking and for your sake, don't be concerned about whose chair you might sit in. Get yourself right in front of Jesus and see what happens next.

In His Grip,

Carl