Day 6 – A Paralytic
“On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 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.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
Luke 5:17-26
I have a friend who has struggled for many years with a debilitating physical ailment. During one tough season of her life, her faith was faltering. Why was God allowing this? Where was he in it? Does He care?
In response, another friend who is a songwriter wrote her a song with this powerful line, “When your faith is hard to find, you can borrow mine.” What a beautiful image that is!
I think that is what’s happening in this story. The paralyzed man is brought to Jesus and is forgiven and healed, not by his faith, but by the borrowed faith of his friends.
Faith always involves risk. What are the risks of their faith and willingness? They seem pretty low to me (besides arrest for trespassing and vandalism), especially when weighed against the hope and possibility?
INWARD: Father, what do you want me to know?
Can you remember a time when someone, in effect, loaned you their faith? A parent? A friend? A pastor? A stranger?
Imagine for a few moments what our once-paralyzed friend in this story thinks, feels, and believes about Jesus because of his friends.
OUTWARD: Father, what do you want me to do?
Is there someone in your life who needs to borrow your faith? Find some small way to reach out and get them in front of Jesus. A call or text. A visit. A hug.
Or write a note of thanks to the one who has “loaned” you their faith.
