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
 |
| Fox den in the Arizona desert. |
He’s Home! The people of Capernaum claimed
that their town was Jesus’ home. He was back
home. Jesus Himself didn’t claim Capernaum as His home. When talking with a
teacher of religious law He said…"Foxes
have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place
even to lay his head." Matthew 8:20. He had no home. Jesus apparently
stayed at the home of Peter’s mother-in-law while He was in Capernaum and it
was there that the roof was removed and a paralyzed man was lowered through the
ceiling into the room where Jesus was preaching. That must have been amazing.
Jesus was even so impressed by the faith of the man’s friends that He pronounced
forgiveness for the paralyzed man’s sin.
We have a friend, Mel, who is a paraplegic—with
no feeling below his waist due to an auto accident almost twenty years ago. He
gets around—even drives his big van—with little if any help. Right now he is
recovering from some surgery earlier this spring—so he isn’t getting out of his
home except for a trip to the doctor’s office. If lowering him through the roof
would cure him of his paralysis—we certainly would cut a big hole in our roof.
But we know that Jesus isn’t sitting in our living room crowded by people so
that Mel can’t get to Him. Prayer is powerful—but it hasn’t brought Mel the use
of his legs again…and he is OK with that. He has such a positive attitude…and
that is by choice. He makes the choice to be happy—to be pleasant and even
encouraging to others. What a lesson to all of us who have the use of our legs—as
well as our arms, hands, fingers and toes. Did the paralyzed man complain to
his friends about his inability to walk? We don’t know…but we do know that his
friends had FAITH. Faith in Jesus to heal their friend.
Do you have that kind of faith that Jesus
would be able to see? How far would you go to help a friend—paralyzed physically
or spiritually? Are you the one who needs a spiritual touch from our Lord? Is
Jesus your Lord and Savior? If not, consider one of His many promises—“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. Maybe you are
thinking you don’t want to go to the Father…but that is the key to Heaven and
eternal life. Another promise that gives hope…“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God
sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world
through him.” John 3:16-17.
Prayer
~ Thank You Lord Jesus for giving us hope…for the love, encouragement, faith, healing touch, and spiritual insight
You so richly and mercifully provide to us.
Daily
Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 21-24
©
2018 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted
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