Barrier Makers

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"-Luke 2:1-7

If you had been there during the event that this scripture passage describes, what part of the crowd would you be? Would you be one of the critical “church people” who were just waiting for the preacher to say or do something wrong so that you could declare him a heretic? Would you be one of the worshipers who is only there for what you can get for yourself… healing, comfort, teaching… but just for yourself and maybe your family? Maybe you are the “paralyzed man” - a person who just needs Jesus, but no one will let you through the crowd. You long to touch him, but the critics and the worshipers with their own agendas don’t even see you. You are about to give up. Or maybe you are the friend that sees the paralytic’s need. You love Jesus and you know he will heal your friend and you do whatever is necessary to bring him to Christ. You risk the anger of the “church people” and the raised eyebrows of the selfish worshippers.

The person who just needs Jesus doesn’t care about the finer points of theology. His priority isn’t acceptance of the church’s social network. What he needs most is to have a relationship with Jesus. If we are not the one bringing him to the feet of Christ, then we are one of the others. Who am I? Who are you?

Lord Jesus,
Most of us do not intentionally make a barrier that makes it difficult for others to know you, but often in our complacency and content with the way things are, that is exactly what we do. Soften our hearts to see the need of others and to be the friend that brings them to your feet. Amen.

Joys: Fun day with friends; a wonderful long weekend; slower pace of summer (or almost summer)