Mary’s Lent Diary (Day 18)

Well, Jesus seems to have started as he means to go on!  He was back in Capernaum today.  Capernaum is where he is based at the moment and he calls it his own town.  I felt a little bit sad the first time I heard him say it – what about Nazareth, the place where he grew up?  But I have to remember that the people there wanted to kill him, and the people in Capernaum welcomed him with open arms.  Anyway, you can probably guess what happened when Jesus arrived today…he healed someone!

News had got out that Jesus was back in town, so crowds of people went to look for him.  They found him in a house, teaching people.  The house was already was already crowded - quite a number of Pharisees and teachers of the law had come from all over the area to hear Jesus. So, there was a crowd already and when the new arrivals tried to push into the house, too, there really was not room to breathe!

Four men arrived.  They were a bit later than most other people because they had stopped to pick up their friend on the way.  I mean, literally pick up – their friend was paralysed.

Their plan was to carry him on his mat to Jesus, and have Jesus heal him. All well and good until they got to the house, and realised that there was no way they could even get inside, let alone see Jesus.

The man on the mat told them not to worry, they had tried and he appreciated it.  Maybe there would be another opportunity sometime….but his friends were having none of it!  They put their heads together and came up with a plan – go in through the roof.

They carried their friend up the outside steps, and took apart some of the straw and mud from the roof.  When they had made a big enough gap, they lowered their friend down into the house below.  They had certainly picked their spot, because they lowered him into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

Jesus looked at them and saw how much they believed that he could help, saw the effort they had gone to, and then he looked at their friend.  Everyone was waiting for a miracle.  A whisper began to go around the crowd that they were about to witness another healing.  Jesus looked at the man and said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’  People looked confused – what did he mean?  What about healing the poor man?

The Pharisees and teachers of the law were not happy, either.  They thought Jesus had no right to forgive sins, only God could do that.  Who did this Jesus think he was?!  They didn’t say anything but, of course, Jesus knew what they were thinking…so he asked them why.  Why were they thinking those things?  Which was easier, to say sins are forgiven or to say get up and walk?

He did not wait for an answer (fortunately for them!) but just said that he was going to prove that he, the Son of Man, had authority to forgive sins.  I don’t think I have heard him refer to himself as the ‘Son of Man’ before, what does he mean by it? That sword is piercing my heart again.

So Jesus basically proved what he’d said about sins being forgiven by healing the man.  I mean it, the man stood up, picked up his mat and walked home, praising God all the way!

Holes in a wooden roof

Jesus backed up his words with action.

The four friends backed up their faith in Jesus with action.

Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

James 2:17b

Do people know from the way we live that we follow Jesus?

'Preach the gospel at all times. And if necessary, use words.'

(Attributed to Francis of Assisi)

The four believed that Jesus could heal their friend, yet they were met with obstacles.

They were met with crowds,

Crowds which could have put them off.

They could have said “well, we gave it our best shot.”

They could have given up.

Instead, they thought outside the box.

They went out of their way.

They did something different.

They wanted to show their friend the presence of Jesus, and that’s what they were determined to do.

So they thought outside the box and took the roof off.

Who could you go out of your way for today, to show the presence of Jesus?

…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Jesus saw the men’s’ faith (Mark 2:8).

Faith fuelled by love for their friend.

Jesus sees what we do, and why we do it.

The crowd would have seen four men lower their friend through the roof.

They’d have seen what the men did.

Jesus saw that they did it because they had faith in Him.

He saw why they did what they did.

As we serve Him, in whatever way, let’s remember that He sees our hearts.

He sees our faith.

He knows.

People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

(1 Samuel 16:7b)

This is the first time Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of Man.

It was a new revelation of Himself to his listeners.

Is He wanting to reveal Himself to you in a new way this Lent?

Why not ask Him?

A way in the wilderness…

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

(Isaiah 43:19)

Lord Jesus,

May the way I live my life bring glory to You.

May I carry Your Presence with me always.

Help me to think outside the box when I need to.

Thank You for knowing my heart.

May that be more important to me than what other people think.

Amen

Mary’s Memo Show Jesus