We all tend to feel some level of discomfort when another
person shakes up our understanding about how the world works. This is not just
true about the ‘big’ idea things. We tend to think that the way Mom made
meatloaf is the way it’s done, right?
When traditions get challenged, our response
is often emotional. We tend not to ask, ‘is this reasonable?’ Instead we react. The more personal a
tradition, the more it disturbs our sense of well-being, the stronger our
reaction.
In our reading in Matthew today, Jesus takes on tradition
and provokes a strong reaction in some religious leaders who saw His words and
actions as a direct threat to the established ideas about spiritual authority. "Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed
over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a
mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son;
your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to
themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said,
“Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say,
‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may
know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....” Then he
said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man got up
and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they
praised God, who had given such authority to men." (Matthew 9:1-8,
NIV)
Most people viewed the paralyzed man who was brought to Jesus
with some pity, but also with judgment, assuming
that his condition was the result of his sin and therefore, the judgment of
God. They believed that there was a direct connection between suffering and
some personal sin. The religious leaders heard what Jesus said and thought it was
presumptuous. He was stepping into a
place that belonged only to God. No
human being had any business ‘forgiving sins’ unless there was involvement with
the ritual processes of the sacrificial system and the priesthood – so they
thought.
That’s why Jesus’ words to the man were so controversial. He was revealing something about Himself that
would change the world, literally. Jesus, in his interaction with this
paralyzed man, makes a declaration that He is God, that He has the ability to
heal more than the body. He can heal the soul, giving eternal life, restoring
the relationship of the sinner with God!
Two questions for your thoughts today.
First, what limits of
understanding keep you from experiencing the full power and authority of Jesus?
We may say we have faith that He can do anything, that He is
Lord of all, but then our words reveal a different conclusion. It happens to us
all. In my prayers today I was praying for someone who’s life is full of
suffering, addiction, so many tangled issues of brokenness that hope for
transformation seems impossible. Hearing my own rather faithless words, my
prayers that were without heart, I stopped and got honest with God. “Lord, this
person’s life is such a snarled mess that I have no idea even how to pray. I confess that I need an infusion of real
faith to think that even You can make a difference.”
I do not think I am the only person alive who has experienced
that kind of inner conflict, that kind of limited vision. Are you willing to
admit to yourself and to God that you need a gift of faith? Remember the father who brought his son to
Jesus. He wanted his son healed but knew something of his doubts, so he prayed-
“I do believe; help me overcome my
unbelief!” (Mark 9)
Second, are you
humble enough to respond with faith when God shakes up your world?
Jesus purposefully offended those religious leaders that day
with His words. Was He just trying to make them angry? Of course not. He was
confronting them, hoping to make really think, to consider what they believed
to be true. All of us develop traditions and reach conclusions that seem true to us. There is comfort in
such ideas about how the world works, who God is, and why things happen. But,
God wants us to grow in faith, to know Him beyond the sentimental song, to
trust Him so deeply that we find an unshakeable confidence, not in ourselves,
but in Him. To do that, He will let us experience things that challenge us,
bring people into our lives that are uncomfortably truthful, and speak to us
through the Word and His Spirit. What then?
Will we grow and know Him as He is, or will we retreat to our comfort?
The ‘crowd’ that day saw what Jesus had done for the
paralyzed man and simply trusted. They did not get wrapped up in ‘how’ or ‘why.’
They experienced awe and responded with praise to God. May we be like them, ready to see, quick to worship, always
faithful.
Here is a word from the Word. "Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter
what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is
what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive
all that he has promised. “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come
and not delay. And a righteous person will live by faith. But I will have no
pleasure in anyone who turns away.” But we are not like those who turn their
backs on God and seal their fate. We have faith that assures our
salvation." (Hebrews 10:35-39, NLT)
"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves,
and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and
craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in
love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."
(Ephesians 4:14-15, NIV)
________
Bless the Lord O my
soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy
name
The sun comes up it's
a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your
song again
Whatever may pass and
whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when
the evening comes
You're rich in love
and You're slow to anger
Your name is great and
Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons
for my heart to find
And on that day when
my strength is failing
The end draws near and
my time has come
Still my soul will
sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and
then forevermore
Worship Your holy name
Lord I'll worship Your
holy name
Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman
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