God, Us and Truth.

Jesus Heals in Response to Faith

Luke 5:17-26 NLT
One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord's healing power was strongly with Jesus. [18] Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, [19] but they couldn't reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. [20] Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Young man, your sins are forgiven." [21] But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, "Who does he think he is? That's blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!" [22] Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you question this in your hearts? [23] Is it easier to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up and walk'? [24] So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!" [25] And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. [26] Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, "We have seen amazing things today!"

What does the story say?
Can you imagine being in this situation. Jesus is in the area, everyone wants to see him, but you and your friends can't get in because it is so crowded. You are desperate to see him, so what do you do? I'm not sure I woukd have thought about going through the roof, but these friends did.

The friends realise that this is no ordinary situation, so they decide to lower their friend through the roof. Now that was sure to get attention. Jesus saw them, he saw their heart, and their desires, and he responded.

Jesus heals in response to faith

Jesus heals the paralyzed man in response to faith. He saw and responded to the faith of the man and his friends. Jesus knew the people's hearts, he knew that the man on the mat needed healing and forgiveness. (He also knew what the reaction of the pharisees would be). But he knew the need, he saw the faith, and he responded. 

The friends' also saw the need and the possibility of new life and were determined to get the man to Jesus, no matter what. They were prepared to do something radical. The place where Jesus was teaching and healing was crowded, but his friends were radical in their thinking and did not allow circumstances to defeat them. They knew Jesus was the answer for their friend. Jesus knew that the real need was forgiveness, he addresses both the felt need, and the real need and the man walks home totally free.

We also see here the critical heart of the pharisees. They were not responding to faith. They chose to judge and to criticise.

What do we learn about God?
God forgives, and his grace and mercy are available to all no matter the situation. Jesus had been healing lots of people, his desire is to set people free so that they can truly be all that God created them to be.

God is a God who heals. Whether your 'paralysis' is physical, emotional or spiritual, God is there and wants to set people free. Forgiveness of sin is often linked to healing. We need God's forgiveness. Jesus healed the man, and set him free, not just from his physical paralysis, but from the sin that separated him from God. God will heal in all sorts of ways, and  he heals in response to faith, and sets us free.

Psalm 103:1-5 NLT
Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. [2] Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. [3] He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. [4] He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. [5] He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's!

What other truths does the story portray?
Religious people like the pharisees, miss opportunities for miracles because they are caught up in rules and regulations rather than grace and forgiveness. These people had come as spectators to watch and to criticise. They had all the right gear, but they had not come to support the game, they had come to sit back and watch the players.

Jesus often had strong words for the pharisees, because whilst they knew so much, or thought they knew so much about God, they did not come to God with the right attitude.

Matthew 23:2-4, 23-28 NLT
"The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. [3] So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach. [4] They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. [23] "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law-justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. [24] Blind guides! You strain your water so you won't accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel! [25] "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy-full of greed and self-indulgence! [26] You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too. [27] "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs-beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity. [28]Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

We can ask ourselves some questions here:
How do I see other people and what is my response to what God is doing for others?

What critical and judgemental attitudes do I have that stop me from seeing God's grace and mercy at work in others?

James 4:8, 11-12 NLT
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. [11] Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God's law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. [12] God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbour?

It is usually spectators who are not taking part in the game who think they have a right to criticise the actions of everyone else. Think about sport: its the commentators and the spectators, who usually sit back in judgement of the referees or the players. Some know quite a bit about the game. But they are just spectators. People truly active in God's kingdom usually have a desire to just get on with it, and they don't have the time or the inclination, to criticise.

Proverbs 3:7 NLT
Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Mostly we criticise because we think people should do things our way. It's actually a selfish motive, usually based in wanting/needing to promote ourselves in some way. (Note: I'm talking about the attitude of criticism, as opposed to having a good, sound objective, critical analysis of a situation.)

What do we learn about how we are to live?
Our attitude is meant to be one of faith that is based on who God is, not on who we are. The paralyzed man was not trusting in what he could do himself, he was trusting in what God can do. His friends were not trusting in their own abilities. They were looking to Jesus for the answer.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. [6] Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

The friends facilitated the healing, they were active and practical, but they trusted In God not in man. They had a desire to be close to Jesus and they wanted to place their friend in a situation where he was close to Jesus. We don't know whose idea it was, the man or his friends, but together, they made a difference for someone. This is the value of good friends. Notice that they positioned themselves close to Jesus and were prepared to be a little radical in what they did to make sure they got close. God wants people to draw close to him.

Isaiah 55:1-7 NLT
"Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink- even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk- it's all free! [2] Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. [3] "Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. [4] See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations. [5] You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious." [6] Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. [7] Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

The friends didn't care if they looked a little bit silly. They just did what they needed to do to get close to Jesus and give their friend a chance to be healed.

Are we living in a way that positions us close to Jesus?

What radical actions (out of the square, out of the box kind of actions) are we prepared to take to help our friends come close to Jesus?

What do I need to do now? Or; What is my next step?
The answer to this is for personal reflection.

A thought

Jesus says in Luke 8, Be careful how you hear.

Am I hearing with the intent to take action and respond to the word of God and the voice of God, or am I hearing to ignore?

How am I hearing? What is my attitude and how will I respond?

What is my response to what I have just heard?