MY JESUS IS YOUR JESUS TOO
A few weeks ago while reading my bible I came across this story in Mark 2. It is the story of four men who take a crippled man and bring him to Jesus to be healed.
Now Jesus did many miracles as recorded in the bible, so it is real easy to "lump" these miracles all together in our minds but to do so is unfair to the author who took the time to detail a specific miracle(s) and unwise as the reader because in every situation God puts His personal touch and layers them with truths that will not only advance our faith in Him but adds to our faith in Kingdom abundance so that we become completely convinced that He alone is all we need in this life in ALL and EVERYTHING. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Back to the story: So this bible passage (Mark 2:1-12) tells us that Jesus has returned to a city and the house he is staying at becomes overrun with people wanting to see him, talk to him, and even many more to be healed.
As these four men arrive carrying this sick man, they realize that they will be hard-pressed to get through the crowd and reach Jesus.
You and I have been there at some point in our lives. The lines are long and the miracle we are seeking for is about to close it's door in 15 minutes...or so it seems that way. So we turn around and walk away from it because it doesn't seem attainable or worse yet we convince ourselves we don't deserve it.
Thank God for this story! You see, these men were not going to let a crowd or circumstance stop them from getting this man to Jesus! They had desire and determination. And it begged the question, "Where was this coming from?"
I found it in verses 4 and 5: "And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."
I love how this moment is described for us; these men got on the roof of the house and BROKE THROUGH IT!! This was not even their house...but it didn't matter because they knew who was in the house...that's right...JESUS was there. A break through was about to advance a breakthrough!
You see, what I had never realized before was the amount of desire, determination, faith, and love in these men to get one man to Jesus. And that is when the Holy Spirit spoke to me, "George, these men had found this desire and determination to reach Jesus because all of them had been previously loved, reached, and touched by Jesus themselves.
What? Wait! I didn't read anything about Jesus meeting these men before? Again, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, You don't have to read about their experience because their actions tell their stories!
In the midst of the chaos came a powerful declaration from Jesus to these men and for the people pushing and and shoving all around Him: "When Jesus saw their faith...Son, your sins are forgiven!"
Their testimony was defined by a multiple of actions which led to a man not only being healed physically but having his sins forgiven permanently...HALLEUJAH!
Their Jesus was now his Jesus!
Lord, forgive me for the moments that I try to keep you all to myself and miss the opportunities you give me to BREAK THROUGH for someone else's breakthrough. Let my love, desire, determination, and faith grow in abundance for any and all who do not know you so that my actions always bring those in darkness into your presence...into the LIGHT!