Luke 5:17-26

Posted by DJL on Jan 30, 2013 in Daily Bread | 2 comments

One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting nearby (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. Just then some men came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, “Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you’, or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the one who was paralyzed—“I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home.” Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”

One more thing before leaving this scene. While it’s easy to get caught up in the dramatic tension of this part of the story, as the Pharisees and teachers of the law square off against Jesus, let’s not overlook the power of friendship.

Think, for a moment, of the great dedication of these men to their friend. Having heard that Jesus is in the area, they carry him on a stretcher. Who knows how far they traveled, the weather that day, the lengths they went to arrange this. None of it, finally, matters, as their chief concern and heart’s desire is to bring their friend to the one who may be able to heal him.

Imagine, also, the tremendous frustration they must feel when they arrive at the place Jesus is teaching only to find their way blocked. Too many people are there; the way forward is impossible. And not only frustration I’d imagine, but anger. Surely these people don’t need Jesus like we do! Yet angry or frustrated or weary, there is simply no way forward.

Some would have perhaps complained loudly at this time, hoping to force a way through, only to be again and again rebuffed by the implacable nature of crowds. Others would have given up, marching sullenly and sadly the long way home. But this group, made creative through a mixture of desperation and dedication, scale the wall of the building, hoisting their friend along, and then remove the tiles from the roof in order to lower their friend down to Jesus.

I still remember the storybook version of this story I read as a child. I remember being more than a little amazed at their audacity, at the mess it must have made, at the surprise of the crowd and Jesus as watch these men literally break in to see Jesus. And I remember thinking that of course Jesus would heal this man. How could he not? And, as Luke narrates, Jesus does indeed notice the great faith and love of these friends and, in turn, calls the man on the bed “friend” and heals him.

Yes, it’s easy to miss the power of friendship amid the miraculous healing and rising dramatic tension. But inspired by this group, take just a moment to contemplate the friends in your life – those for whom you would risk much, work much, go to great lengths to help, and those who would do the same for you. And remember the difference friends have made to you at critical times, and the difference you have made to others.

Friendship remains a powerful element of this story and of our lives, as God continues to work through it for the good of the world and people God loves so much. So after calling to mind some of the friends you have enjoyed over the years, offer a prayer of thanksgiving for them.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the gift of friendship. Bless the friends you have given us over the years to accompany us on the way, and grant that we may be a friend to those who need one. In Jesus’ name, Amen.