Seeking.
“And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking 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 midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven you’” (Luke 5:18-20).
In studying the text for this Sunday’s message (Luke 5:17-26), there was a word that caught my attention. It was the English word, “behold.” That’s the expression that Luke (and other Gospel writers) have used to give the reader a laser focus on something that just happened or was about to happen. Luke 2 relays to us that famous Christmas phrase, “Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy . . .”(Luke 2:10). It’s an attention grabbing word that we could easily pass over but the Greek causes us to slow down and consider what is about to take place.
So, as we fixate our gaze on this event, let’s see what we can highlight. Let’s trace our fingers through this shortened section (Luke 5:18-20) and make note of a few things:
“There is a paralyzed man.” nothing crazy or strange about that. Our world is full of people who are hurting.
“and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus.” This section is interesting. It says nothing about the man’s desire for Jesus’ attention; we can probably assume that he’s interested in having some help but the text says nothing about his ambitions or desires. It speaks about his friends. And they are daily or constantly (shown in the imperfect tense of the verb) involved in seeking help for their friend.
“but finding no way to bring him in. . .” This is a roadblock. Roadblocks are good at slowing us down, slowing or stunting our progress and often they halt us and turn us around, slumping because we don’t get to go the direction we were convinced was a good direction. Roadblocks are challenging but those roadblocks may not be calling us to renounce our seeking. What is it that you are seeking from Jesus? Don’t back off, especially if it is a right desire: a desire for marriage, a desire for a healthy child, a desire to fix your brokenness, a desire to contribute to the Kingdom plan, etc.
“because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.” Roadblocks only cause their seeking to push in an alternate direction. What roadblocks are there in your life? Let God use them to move you to another route, another doorway, another opportunity. Matthew 7 tells us that those who ask, seek and knock will find answers, will find and will have open doors. Keep on keeping on!
“And when he saw their faith, he said . . .” This is what astounded me. Jesus saw their faith and not the faith of the paralyzed man. Again, it's not clear or stated what his faith was or wasn’t. Apparently Luke wants us to be impressed by the seeking friends’ faith. Apparently God wants us to know that He knows that we have faith in His promises, His Power and His love for us. God does not miss our faith, no matter how small or how tattered. God can see our faith. That is why you are reading this article; you have faith and have a seeking nature. Keep seeking!
“Man, your sins are forgiven you.” How beautiful! How almost anticlimactic?! He is paralyzed and Jesus forgives his sins?? He has this physical need and Jesus focuses on his spiritual need? YES! Physical benefits and blessings are really nice and we have a collection of those blessings in our life. But let’s recall Jesus’ own insight: “Seek first the Kingdom of God!” (Matt. 6:33). To be forgiven gives this man a place in the kingdom of God. When sins are still intact and present, we cannot enter the kingdom. But John 3 (born of water and the Word) tells us that we can enter the Kingdom of God through rebirth by the Holy Spirit and the washing away of our sins. That is precious and most valuable.
Spoiler alert! Jesus did heal the man also. But the most necessary thing for him and for us is forgiveness. Forgiveness is ours because Jesus secured it at the cross. Forgiveness opens up our broken state and heals us from the inside out. Our bodies will be tossed, stretched, sickened and torn in this physical world with physical evidence of sin, but the forgiveness that is won for us by Jesus Christ is the most eternally beneficial event that we all need . . . and what our very souls are seeking.
Keep up the seeking attitude, my friends! And know that in Jesus, all your sins are forgiven and numerous other blessings will be yours at the proper time.