Mark 2:1-12
Last week, I preached on “Love in Action” and it occurred to me during the week, that often, in order to make it happen, we need others around us. We need to be in relationship with each other and so I have titled this morning’s sermon, “The Value of Relationship.”
I wonder if for many of you ladies, as you watched the Royal Wedding recently, it stirred up secret yearnings to be in Kate Middleton’s shoes? To be a royal princess and have people wait on you, hand and foot? I wonder how many of you men have ever secretly wished you were a famous film or rock star, with women falling at your feet? Sounds great, doesn’t it, even if a little surreal. However for all their glamorous lives there is a huge downside, because when you read of their lives it soon becomes apparent that they can’t go anywhere without being swamped by reporters and fans forever in their faces and instead it rather makes you glad that you’re just you, doesn’t it?
Well, I believe, this is what it was like for Jesus; Jesus Christ, Superstar. Everywhere he went, the crowds followed. Occasionally he managed to get away into the hills, away from the demands of the crowds to spend time in prayer with his father, but it wasn’t easy.
So it is, in our Gospel reading this morning. Mark tells us that a few days after Jesus re-entered the town of Capernaum, the crowds got wind of his presence there and showed up in their droves. Soon the house was filled to overflowing with people; and people even spilled out into the streets. We can’t quite imagine this as our homes are our sanctuary, not open to all and sundry.
Well, into this crowd came four men, carrying on a stretcher, a friend of theirs who was paralysed. So jammed was the narrow street that they could not get through. However, they were as resourceful, as they were determined and so we read that they climbed on top of the house and cut a hole through the roof and lowered their crippled friend down. ( Somehow, I can’t imagine council members at CPAC being thrilled at the idea of someone cutting a hole in the new roof at church house, so I can’t help wondering what was going on in the mind of that house owner, but I digress!)
This morning I would like to look at this story from a different angle. I would like us to explore the dynamics of this story by taking a look at the principal characters involved.
The first thing I noted in this story was the intercession of his friends. Most people had forgotten about this paralysed man as they raced to see and hear Jesus, but there were four who had not! They took the time and they made the effort to go out and get him and bring him to Jesus. I wish that we knew their names, but I get the sense that they did what they did, not for recognition, but because they cared. They not only desired to see Jesus for themselves, they wanted others to see him. Thus, they became co-participants in the miracle that was about to take place.
And so, thanks be to God, this unfortunate cripple had friends who genuinely cared and felt for him. It causes me to ask the questions, just how important are friendships and relationships to you? How does what you do for your friends and neighbours, impact on their lives?
If you read the story closely you will discover that this man’s forgiveness and his healing was based on faith, but not his own faith. He was forgiven and healed because of the faith of these friends. Quite an encouragement for those of us who are praying for others, isn’t it! And what would we do without family and friends who care and who under-gird us with strength when we need it. No, they cannot perform a miracle and make us well again when we are sick. No, they cannot bring back a loved one who has died, but friends and family can offer a ministry of presence. They can be there when we need them, and that means a lot. This cripple could not have received healing without the faith of his friends. What never ceases to amaze me, as new believers tell me their stories, is how often I discover there was people in the background who had been praying for these persons for years and years! Something to think about, wouldn’t you agree?
The second personality in the story was the crowd who prevented the cripple from seeing Jesus. They actually kept this poor unfortunate from getting to Jesus. I can’t help wondering if we, like the crowd in the story, unintentionally have become a barrier to people coming to Jesus, for often our own complacency and lack of enthusiasm for our beliefs create a barrier for others. I believe we constantly need to ask ourselves, are we reaching others for Christ or are we simply meeting one another’s agenda? We somehow have to get beyond routine and maintenance, to let people know that we care about them as persons and that we care about their souls. In other words, we are called, as Christians, to go the extra mile.
Oh yes, the paralysed man did see Jesus. A hole was cut through the roof of the house and he was lowered in. But we dare not forget that he saw Jesus despite of, and not because of, the help of the crowd, which tragically so often represents the church.
The third personality in the story is the cripple. To understand his plight, we must first realize that in Jesus’ time health and theology were viewed as inseparable. If you were sick it was because God was angry with you because of some sin you must have committed. The people of that day thought this man was crippled because he had done something to invoke the wrath of God. After hearing that for years, the man himself perhaps began to believe it too, for wouldn’t you? Many of us in today’s world carry stuff all through our lives because someone significant to us has told us over and over again, that we are useless, or worthless, or stupid. And although we try not to believe it, unless handed over to Jesus for healing of memories, it can surface from time to time as an immobilizing force in our lives. I wonder, what criticism have you carried as a burden on your shoulders all through your life that has hindered the way you operate. Is it something you need to get rid of once and for all? This cripple may not have been even sure what he did, but he would be convinced that it must have been something pretty bad because he sure was paying for it now!
I’m sure there were those in the crowd that day who would have thought, “He made his bed, let him lie in it.” It is so easy to criticise those in a state that we are not in, even today. We are still very capable of making the same assumptions and moral judgements:
· All those homeless people…they’re out there on the streets by choice you know.
· Well, I’ve got no time for solo mums. I reckon they all got themselves into that predicament just so they didn’t have to go to work, and could stay at home and collect the domestic purposes benefit.
· Our government is too slack. We should be a lot harder on those that break the law. I say lock them all up and throw away the key.
No doubt you’ve all heard similar comments from the self righteous among us in our communities.
I believe this crippled man represents the disenfranchised people in today’s society. The people we would just as soon not deal with. But notice that, even if this man had done something to bring his condition upon himself, Jesus did not condemn him. Jesus realises that this man’s condition is more self-imposed than medical. He did not take advantage of this captive man to lecture him on the virtue of taking control of his life, of making something of himself, of doing the right thing. (Now that is really worth taking note of!)
No, he didn’t do any of those things. Instead, he says, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” In these words we can discern the root of the man’s illness, and of our own. He, like ourselves, was paralysed by sin. His first paralysis is not physical but spiritual. So, Jesus offers him forgiveness. Afterwards he is healed and walks, but only afterwards. While the physical healing was a miracle, it was the healing of the man’s relationship with God that becomes the lesson for this morning.
I pray that God will use us to share our faith with others and give us the courage to speak His words of life and healing into the lives of others that they too may experience the love and peace of Christ; that they too may be made whole.
And, I pray that we will put love into action, no matter how hard, how inconvenient or how difficult, knowing that we can only accomplish it by being in relationship with Christ and with one another.
