Paralyzed No More

In Luke 5:17-26 we have the account of the healing of the paralytic man. This man, so desperately in need, was unable in his physical body to come to Christ. His need, though great, was met by the aid of those who obviously loved him. Four faithful friends carried him to Jesus. The overcame the obstacles preventing them from getting the man to Jesus by faith: the crowds, the house, the roof were overcome. Now in the presence of the Lord the Bible says, “And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.” It is interesting to notice that Jesus tied this man's physical condition to his spiritual condition. You may not realize this, but, apart from the work of Christ, you are just as paralyzed as this man. Let's investigate this together.

This man was paralyzed and could do nothing to change it. We are not told what sin this man committed that cause his paralysis. Yet, it was the disease of sin that Jesus confronted first – not the paralysis itself. That was secondary. This applies to you, because you are paralyzed by sin and you can do nothing to reverse its effects on your life. All the grunting, crying, and striving will never move you one inch closer to the cure for your disease. And all the self-help books are useless to you, because you, just like this paralyzed man, are helpless to help yourself. By the way, the Bible does not teach that God helps those that help themselves, because they can't help themselves. And you cannot help yourself. Your case – in and by yourself – is hopeless.

This man was totally dependent on others. All of his care and feeding required the aid of others. Just staying alive required that others intervene to help him. He could not even help them to help him in the slightest way. And he was probably embarrassed to be so dependent on others. Your condition is similar. You are absolutely dependent on others to care for your spiritual needs. You desperately need those that are willing bring you to Christ. The preacher, the Sunday school teacher, the mother's prayers, the witness of believers – all of these are there because you are helpless to help yourself. It may embarrass you, but they are necessary to your cure. You may hate what they do, say, and pray, but they are the means to get you to Christ. And ultimately, you must come to Jesus by their aid. The paralytic had four friends that overcame every obstacle to get him to Jesus. May you have such friends. And may their faith inspire yours in Christ.

What happened to the paralytic man when he finally came to Jesus? He was radically changed. First, he had his sins forgiven, and then his life completely changed. He came in borne by four in his bed and left carrying his bed. This radical change in his life is proof that Christ was able to forgive his sins. “Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house (Luke 5:23-24).” Every time that a sinner is transformed into a saint it tells the world that Jesus the Son of God is able to forgive sin. Is that your experience? Has Jesus radically changed your life?

Has Christ changed your life in such a way that your family and friends notice it? If not, it would be a good thing to do what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” Even now Christ is willing to forgive and change you if you will repent and put your faith in Him as Lord and Savior of your life. Why not trust Jesus now?

The Blind Side

In the movie “The Blind Side” Sandra Bullock who played the adoptive mother of Michael Ohr explained the danger to quarterbacks of the blind side – that side in which he cannot see the defensive tackle coming. There is a sense in which all of us, like football quarterbacks, have a blind side. It is interesting to note that a person can be very rational and clearly see things in one area of life and still have a blind side in other areas. People are have a blind side in a variety of ways. In Matthew 9:27-34 we see two literally blind men that end up seeing, a demon possessed mute man that ends up speaking, and the Pharisees that end up blaspheming. Of the three, the Pharisees are in a worse condition. The old proverb says, “There is none so blind as those who will not see.” Are you blind?

There are some that are blind, but see very clearly. That is the case of these two blind men. “And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us (Matthew 9:27).” These men could not see, but they had heard that Jesus could heal. Though they could not see, they recognized Jesus as the long awaited Messiah. Though they could not see, they believed. Faith sees even when the physical eyes are blind. And so it is with we who believe in Christ. “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:8-9).” Their blind side – their physical blindness – was not a hindrance to the eyes of faith. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).” In their blindness they came to Jesus in faith and went away seeing. They did not allow their blind side (physical blindness) from seeing Jesus, the Messiah.

In Matthew 9:32 we are introduced to another man in need of Christ. “As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil (Matthew 9:32).” He was a mute (dumb in the old English), but he was not a mute by any physical limitation. He was mute because he was possessed by a demon. We are not told how this man was demonized. But we are told that there were some that cared for him enough that they brought him to Jesus. Although there were many that knew this man that were blind to him and his need, these that brought him to Jesus were not. They came to Jesus in faith on behalf of the man. In the presence of Christ this man was set free from the demon that possessed and silenced him. Silent no longer the mute spoke and the multitude glorified God for Jesus. “It was never so seen in Israel (Matthew 9:33).”

We come now to the Pharisees. “But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils (Matthew 9:34).” If you were physically blind it would be a foolish thing for you to get behind the wheel of a car. Yet, the Pharisees are blind and didn't know it. They were blind and did something much more dangerous that getting behind the steering wheel of a car. They, in their blindness, blasphemed the Holy Spirit. This is the real unpardonable sin – attributing to Satan the works that the Holy Spirit performed by Jesus. “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men (Matthew 12:31).” They had a blind side toward the Savior and accused Jesus of working for the Devil. They were condemned to remain in their blindness and die in their sins.

Of the three, the ones to be most pitied are the Pharisees. In their blindness these particular Pharisees lost their opportunity to repent and believe Christ Jesus. But you have the opportunity to repent and believe the gospel of Christ. I plead with you to repent and believe the good news. I pray God that He will open your eyes that you might truly see and your ears that you might really hear the gospel of Christ. And then, that Christ might dwell in your heart by faith. Repent and believe today.

A Lesson from a Father's Love

Let's take a walk with a man whose love for his daughter drove him to Jesus. The man's name is Jairus. He was a leader of the local synagogue in his village. We are not told much about this man or his family other than he had a daughter that was deathly sick. We are not told how he knew that Jesus had just arrived at the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee near his village. What we do know is the this man immediately sought for Jesus' help. “My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live (Mark 5:23).” The Bible tells us that, even though he was a “ruler” of the synagogue, Jairus fell at Jesus feet. His love for his daughter and his desperation drove him. He sought out Jesus. We are given a lesson in a father's love for his daughter and the faith that drove that love to Jesus.

How many never venture in faith, because they feel unworthy. They never know the joy of answered prayer, because they are not willing to take the chance that the Lord may say no. The believer can be confident that we can approach the Savior in faith and expect Jesus to respond with compassion. “And Jesus went with him... (Mark 5:24).” We teach our children to sing “Jesus loves me this I know...”, but somehow forget that we are born again into His family and the Lord cares for us. Always “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (1 Peter 5:7).” Child go to Him in faith, because He cares for you.

During those times of our greatest need we may be used to put others in Jesus way. This happened in the case of the woman with the issue of blood. The crowd followed Jesus and Jairus to see what would happen. She was just one in the crowd, but she was the one with faith to reach out and touch Jesus in faith. Would she have been able to get to Jesus if it had not been for Jairus leading the Master to his house? We may never know, but forever the healing of this woman is join to the raising of Jairus' daughter

The joy of this woman's healing was short lived, because the delay on account of the woman's need brought the report that Jairus' daughter had died. “Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?” What agony must have entered into the mind and heart of Jairus. Nothing is recorded of his reaction to such horrible news. The agony of the soul is often times closed off to the outside world. Although we do not have Jairus' reaction, what we do have is the Master's comforting words, “Be not afraid, only believe (Mark 5:35).” It is so hard sometimes to believe, but it is Jesus Who speaks to this broken heart. The Lord still speaks to us. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).”

At this point, Jesus takes charge. He makes the crowds stay behind and takes Jairus and three disciples with Him to the home. At the home the Lord deals with the mourners. “Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth (Mark 5:39).” Their response to Jesus was less than supportive, so He puts everyone out of the house. He enters the death room with Jairus and his wife, and Peter, James, and John. Lying in her bed is this father and mother's little girl. I can imagine that viewing this little one loss to them seemingly forever grips their hearts. But Jesus takes her by the hand and says, “Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.” At the word of Jesus the dead rises and the Lord returns to them their dear little girl. What they hoped beyond hope was granted to them by the grace of Christ.

The person that puts his faith in the Lord need never fear that He does not hear our cries for help. As the Lord helps us He helps other and His name is glorified. And in faith's darkest hour the Lord Jesus Himself takes charge of the saints faith – nurturing, leading, protecting, and proving it. The saint that trusts in the Lord will find that Jesus is there every step of the way. Our faith does not need to be strong. It just needs to focus on Christ.