Christmas Eve, my father-in-law’s life changed. A stroke nearly took his life, but God had other plans. The months that followed have brought about much improvement. Sometimes overnight; sometimes excruciatingly slow. And yet God was in the midst of the uncertainty. For uncertainty gave way to hope. Hope gave way to healing. And healing gave way to a prognosis of full recovery… something that was once well beyond hope. Yet now, thankfully, he is well on his way.
Being a pastor, Bill is no stranger to adversity, even from within the church sadly. But I doubt he ever imagined a circumstance quite like this. A stroke is very much like hitting the pause button on life… and simply waiting, and waiting. It is a lesson in patience. It is a lesson in perseverance. But it’s also been a lesson in paternity.
Let me explain…
In Mark 2 we are told the story of a man who is a ‘lifer’, paralyzed for the entirety of his life. No hope. Yet a group of friends weren’t willing to accept that diagnosis with the likes of Jesus roaming the countryside. So they packed up their friend and took him to the man who was said to have the power to heal. What faith. Sadly, on arrival they couldn’t get near the Christ due to the press of the crowd. I imagine it much like a Walmart on Nascar weekend.
I would have given up. But not them. Rather than accept defeat they went to the roof, disassembled it, and lowered their friend into the middle of the crowd directly in front of Christ. The nerve!
Jesus (somewhat predictably) immediately forgives the man’s sins. He avoids the more obvious need for physical healing in order to take care of the more important–though less obvious–need for spiritual healing. It is at this point in the story that an odd thing happens: The scribes (Teachers of the Law) began to question in their hearts.
What could they possibly be questioning?
Their theology (the Old Testament) did not allow for a Messiah that could forgive sins. They believed only God could do so and that Christ’s belief in his personal ability to do as God could only do was (in their mind) a direct affront to Jehovah. In short, blasphemy. The Messiah was not supposed to be God. There was only to be ONE God, Yahweh.
THIS MOMENT was the beginning of the official opposition of Jesus, the opposition that ultimately led to his arrest and death. It began right here, when God healed a broken man. The religious leaders simply couldn’t handle it. It stretched their capacity too far. God, it would seem, was much bigger than the box they had created for him. So rather than expand their understanding, they chose the easier route: hardened hearts.
It is interesting to note that in these days sickness and disease were often viewed as punishment from God for a person’s sin. Perhaps they secretly (or even openly) thought that this man who was paralyzed rightly deserved the fate that he endured. Maybe they whispered stories to one other of tawdry sins and excesses that resulted in his suffering. It is not difficult to imagine, mostly, because we’ve all done similarly at one time or another. And had the New Testament not directly spoken against that narrow mindset we might still think it okay. And yet, I still find people doing it!
As noted, my Pastor has recently faced serious health concerns, but God has been steadily moving him down the path of healing and recovery. And there have been moments, days, even weeks when I feel as though I am reliving the story of the paralytic in Mark 12.
I see those who stand around watching the amazing work of God and, in the words of Mark 12:8, question those things in their hearts. Perhaps it is because some believe that, like the Scribes, all suffering is punishment from God for sin. I’ve heard loud whispers from those who would put words in God’s mouth as to “why” the suffering has come. In fact, often their not whispers at all! There is a strange boldness religious types feel when speaking on behalf of the Creator.
I often see those around me assuming the roles in Mark 12:
I learned long ago that I could never fully understand that mystery and reasons for God. Fortunately, my mostly reformed understanding of Scripture does not make me fear a God who uses providence to work his will in the world. I understand that the picture is much broader than I will ever see or understand.
God doesn’t need my opinions, talents, or accomplishments. He only needs my yieldedness. I pray, daily, that I am one of the ones who carried the paralytic to Christ. And at the times in my life when I AM the paralytic (and they WILL come), I hope you’ll swallow your pride and carry me instead.