Jesus Interrupted Part 2

We don’t usually handle interruptions very well, yet we find Jesus interrupted in the middle of teaching a group of people and acting compassionately. The occasion is found in Mark 2 when a paralyzed man is lowered through the roof of a house in Galilee.

Speaking With God

My friend went to a Bible camp recently where they ask everyone to come up with a camp nickname.  Not having one, and being a little shy, my friend made it a matter of prayer to figure out a name.  “Joy” came to mind quickly but she thought it was a little too cliché so she kept waiting for an answer. 

Later on, someone asked her if she had a nickname yet.  “Not yet,” was her answer.  “How about Joy?” was this person’s response.  My friend immediately sensed the love and affirmation of the Lord wrap around her.  Our heavenly Father truly wants us to speak with Him all the time, no matter how small the issue may be in the eyes of others or even our own.

The Lord Jesus welcomes our interruptions – especially our faith based interruptions. He would never ignore the cries of His little children.  When they lowered that man down through a hole in the roof, when that man allowed them to lower him down through a hole in the roof, we read that Jesus “saw their faith.”  His eyes take note of our attempts to bring someone to faith, however crazy our idea might be.

He Sees Our Faith

He sees the faith we exert when we pray for our children to get saved.  He sees our faith when we invite our friends and co-workers to hear the gospel preached in our churches.  He sees the money we give to missionaries to share the gospel in other lands more desperate than our own.  He sees “our faith” and it pleases Him.  And He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb.11:6)

Only Jesus has the eyes to see our faith.  Others may see only an interruption.  Others see a big hole in the roof or a big mess on the floor.  But Jesus sees the intentions of our hearts.  Like the Word of God, He is able to discern between the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb.4:12).  Jesus could “see” their faith even though their faith was a matter of the heart.  Jesus could also “hear” the murmuring of the Pharisees reasoning in their minds about His “blasphemy,” even though their thoughts were not made audible.

Jesus Sees Our Need

But that’s not the only thing Jesus can see.  He sees our greatest need as well.  The men who lowered the paralytic down from the roof that day deemed paralysis the greatest need the man they lowered needed to be saved from.  For others it is cancer, malnutrition or poverty.  But our greatest need lay far beyond the physical realm. 

Our greatest need is our spiritual need; our greatest need is to be in a right relationship with God Himself.  “Arise, take up your bed and walk” is a lesser need than “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  For the former we need a miracle.  For the latter we need a crucified Saviour.  The first is a temporal need; the latter is eternal.  The first works through the power of life; the second requires the sacrifice of death.

Your Sins are Forgiven

In order for Jesus to say to the paralyzed man these five simple words, “Son, your sins are forgiven,” He had to be bulldozed on the cross under a pavement of judgment.  To say, “Son, you are forgiven” He had to say, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?”  To remain a God of justice, the penalty of the law, which is death, was given to Him to be fully paid. 

God the Father is able to forgive because God the Son was willing to be judged.  Justice demanded the penalty but grace paid it all.  What a gracious and loving God we serve!  What a holy and righteous Judge we proclaim!  To Him be the glory, Amen.

Read Part 1 here.

What do you think would be in “God’s Imaginary Museum?” Shane is a regular contributor to our Christian internet radio station, HopeStreamRadio  through his program entitled “Christ Up Close.”