You Can’t Die On Me

Gatherings are such places where we like to be at our best. It is terrible for someone to come and become a wet blanket, a spoiler or an awkward odd-ball for your gathering. Jesus had a number of awkward moments in such gatherings, one of these took place in Luke 5:17-20 (Jesus heals a paralytic).

Life’s Casualty’s v.18
One of the not-so-glamorous facts of life is that there are people close to us who are going through tough times. Their challenges bring about an awkwardness that we sometimes do not know what to do with. These are facts, issues and even people who you do not want close to your party. These are friends, relatives, close acquaintances who need help, want help but may not even be able to bring themselves to a place where they can find help.

This is the story of the paralytic. It is the story of some of our relatives, loved ones or even close acquaintances. They need help, want help but may not be in a position to go out to get it.

Emergency Action v.18-19
The paralytic’s condition was such that his hope had to be in his friends. These people did an awkward thing in order to help an awkward person.

Let us face it there are some people in our lives who might have a problem and they’ll need a hand. There is a good chance that these loved ones need help, they want it but the circumstances of their lives are so challenging that they are not able to carry themselves to a place of help. These people may have to depend on you to bring them to a place of restoration and healing.

Expressing and deepening of our faith involves bringing healing to people – by bringing them to Christ.
Healing for the paralytic came when his friends put their foot down and said “you cant die on us, we’ve got to do something…”

Life Saver v.20
It is possible that the solution for certain types of spiritual, emotional or even physical paralysis is getting into God’s presence. There is a unique expression of God’s presence and power that is found where people are gathered together in his name.

The thing that fascinates me about this gathering was that Jesus chose to bring healing to the paralytic – not because of the paralytic’s desire or condition, but because of the friend’s belief and faith in Jesus’ healing power.

Healing and restoration for the paralytic came when a friend or two came together, united their faith and stepped out of their comfort zone.

Deepening of our faith involves bringing healing to people – by bringing them to Christ

Jesus did not reprimand the paralytic or his friends. The paralytic was not unwelcome or awkward. This was his day of healing. Healing can come to your friend or relative because of your faith!! Your belief can bring restoration to a loved one.

Who is that person who is in a situation where they need to see the healing, restorative power of Jesus? Who is that person who may perish because of the immense weight of issues that they have? Who is that person who needs help but has no where to look, or go and needs Christ? Who is that person who you say “cain’t die on you?”

The thing that challenges me about Jesus’ response is that he healed the person on the basis of his friends faith. That same healing restorative power of Christ is available for us too.

Who is it that can call upon Jesus on behalf of our friends? Is it not us who know something about him? Is it not us who have seen his healing and restoration power at work in our lives, in our church, in our life groups. Let us then activate this healing power for the sake of our friends.
Deepening of our faith involves doing whatever it takes to rescue lives and bring healing to people – by bringing them to Christ.

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