I love the story in Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12 and Luke 5:17-26 of the men who brought their paralyzed friend to be healed by Jesus. Luke makes it fairly clear that they weren’t going for the show or to watch Jesus, they were going with specific intent of their friend walking home. Luke describes how, because of the crowd, they couldn’t even get their friend in the door, so they climb on the roof and lower him in his bed from the roof to get him in front of Jesus.
Let your mind run with that picture for just a moment or two and you’ll begin to understand this was no easy task. Climbing over crowds, getting up on a roof, hoisting a paralyzed man – let’s say conservatively he was 130 pounds of dead weight – up onto the roof without dropping or dumping him, removing part of the roof big enough for a bed to be lowered down, lowering this same 130 pounds down being careful to keep it level on all corners as not to drop their paralyzed friend on top of Jesus and the crowd in the house, etc., etc., etc.
Luke 5:20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” Luke 5:24b …He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
Make a mental note that it was not just the paralytics faith in play here – in fact, it’s not clear if his faith had anything to do with it at all. The point is this: The friends’ faith played a significant role in the complete healing (both inner and physical) of the once paralyzed man.
Matthew 13:54-58 and Mark 6:1-6 recount the time when Jesus went back to where he grew up, only this time in full ministry mode. As he began teaching, they were astonished at his teaching and couldn’t believe it was the same carpenter’s son who grew up here – to the point that they were offended at him.
Matthew 13:58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Can you imagine limiting Jesus? The community’s faith – or lack thereof – squelched the move of God in their midst leaving the sick, sick; the oppressed, oppressed; those in bondage, in bondage.
Last example (for today)… Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10 tell the story of the Jesus healing the Centurion’s servant. The Centurion so believed in Jesus’ healing power that he knew all Jesus had to do was to speak it and it would be done. The Centurion understood authority. He knew Jesus didn’t need to see the servant, or speak to him, or touch him, he only need to speak and it would happen. The amazing part is that the Centurion wasn’t a Jew. He didn’t grow up in the synagogues and under the tutelage of the priests.
Matthew 8:10-13 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! … 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
The interesting phrase in this one is “as you have believed.” As the Centurion believed, so the servant was healed. I wonder if that why I don’t see miracles of faith sometimes in my life and the lives of those around me. Has my faith limited the move of God in my life and in those around me?
My faith isn’t just mine. My faith can directly affects others. My faith can bring healing and freedom to others, or it can squelch the move of God in others. Your faith isn’t just yours. It affects others. Your faith can bring healing and freedom to others, or it can squelch the move of God in others.
Heavy thought…
I think tomorrow I’m going to start studying on how to grow my faith…. because it matters to others…
Running After Papa…