This morning's service came from the following
passage.
Mark 2:1-5 - After a few
days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that he was back home. A
crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was
teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When
they weren't able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof
and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief,
Jesus said to the paraplegic, "Son, I forgive your sins."
The message was a sound one. I encourage anyone who wants to
look it up on iTunes, simply search City Revival Church. It will come up.
The thought I had does not have to do with the message
preached. I found myself thinking, thinking about Jesus. As many of you know I
have been focusing on what men can learn using Jesus as their role model. That
has led me to desiring to be more like Jesus. I have recently begun to think of
what he would be thinking or I should say based on what we know of his actions
and character what he could have been thinking. I am not willing to presume
that I would know what my Lord thinks.
Let’s pretend for a moment we are Jesus in this passage. You
are sitting in a house probably filled with some people who are curious about
you, some of your traveling companions are in the room with you (maybe their
family, come to see who has stolen them away from their careers), and some
religious leaders looking to question it all. Suddenly you see some dust fall
heavily from above. You hear a noise on the roof. You perhaps hear yelling;
after all it wasn't their roof they were destroying. The religious men are
asking some question they think they already know the answer to, when you see
the first bit of light break thru. You see them now. Men! Regular men! They
have two things, you can feel it. They have love for the man that is crippled
and faith you can heal him. They know as you know his body is just part of the
problem. His condition has left many scars and emotional issues. His anger with
God has led him to sin by lashing out in anger and despair. You feel his pain. These
men didn't come for a lecture. They came, they would not be stopped, simply to
get the one they care about into your presence. You stand up slowly as the man
begins to be lowered. You look up and lock eyes with the men lowering the
cripple, one at a time you look into their faces. You see they know. They know
you are the one they have waited on. You don't have to prove it. They already
know. All they want is there friend to know.
How pleased you are. In a minute the religious ones will
accuse you of blasphemy. But for the moment you see 4 men who know you can fix
all things. They know you and you them. You know all you will go through will
be worth it, because there are men like these out there. These men that have
found faith that people and buildings cannot stop, faith that moves out of love
for another, you smile.
I think Jesus smiled.
Oh how I want faith that will make Jesus smile.
