We live in a culture where people are willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want. Some deny themselves pleasures to get a degree that will afford them the lifestyle they long to have. Others cheat and steal to acquire their desires. Children throw fits and seem to be out of control until Mom or Dad gives in to their wishes. Some work 60 hours a week to impress the boss to get a promotion. The point, we set our sights on something we desire, and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it!
While there is nothing wrong with ambition, and working hard to achieve our goals, I find most Christians’ goals are no different than the rest of the world. So, what’s wrong with this picture? I think our lesson for today points us in the right direction. We will study the passage in Luke 17:17-26 to determine where our focus should be.
Luke 5:17-26 “And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are 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. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things today.”
Jesus is speaking to a large crowd in a home. The atmosphere is filled with true followers, skeptics, and the curious. There are lawyers that came from every town of Galilee, Judaea, and Jerusalem. All to see what Jesus would do.
There were four men who had a friend that was paralyzed. Their goal was to get him to Jesus. These men were much like what I said earlier, whatever our goals are we seek every possible way to fulfill them. The difference, most of our goals are selfish. These men were seeking relief for their friend and they would stop at nothing. They loved this man enough to not give up. There was no way to get this man and his bed through the crowd. I can just hear them as they sought to get through to Jesus. Determined yet frustrated, one of them must have said; hey guys let’s go to the roof. I can hear another one saying what good will that do? The reply was we can take off a part of the roof and let him down. They begin to rig things up to work their plan. Ropes are secured to hoist him down and boards are removed to make the hole big enough. It worked! They got the man to Jesus!
Jesus sees their faith and he declares the man is forgiven and restores his health. While those on the roof were high-fiving each other because they had been successful, the room was still full of skeptics and unbelievers. They don’t get it, Jesus is God! They make accusations about Jesus. Jesus’ answer to their accusations was even better and more confirming of who he is. Would you rather me say “thy sins be forgiven, or rise up and walk?”
I can only imagine the joy and excitement of the friends and the man, as he picked up his bed and walked out! The friends were the reason this man was able to get to Jesus. If they had not cared enough to take their time, effort, and knowledge to help him, he would not have been healed.
Too many times we have the mindset of those watching Jesus that day. We become critical and go through the motions as religious people. We have convinced ourselves this is what being a Christian is all about. Our mindset is allowing people to go to hell because we think it is about money, buildings, plans, and programs. For the church to be what God wants it to be it must be about people.
We should have no excuses when it comes to reaching people. Some think it’s someone else’s place in the church to reach the lost. I hear excuses like; I’m too busy, I’m afraid, I have little kids, or I don’t know how. Any excuse we give to keep from doing what God has commanded is wrong! We are all told to win the lost and we need to be willing to take extreme measures to be obedient.
Who do you know that needs Jesus? What extremes are you taking to get them to Jesus? Prayer is needed, but we need to put the feet of obedience on those prayers and commit to being radical soul winners for the kingdom. Whatever it takes, get them to Jesus!
