Something happened to me yesterday that stirred my heart. I had prayed for God to use me as I visited a person at her place of business yesterday who I don’t see often. I was hoping to just share life and my love for Jesus with her. I enjoy our time together. Another person was there who talked the entire time about herself, her church, her participation in church, and then more about herself and her family…at church Ugh. Not once did she talk of Jesus, His Power, His Glory, His saving grace, His Love, His Mercy, His healing and His blessings.

I read this passage today while recalling yesterday’s situation and I am troubled. We want to desperately bring our friends to Jesus, but sometimes our talk of “our church”, which is not perfect in any way, (there is no perfect church because the church is made from imperfect humans!) actually gets in the way! What would happen if we spent more time talking about Jesus, who IS perfect, and less time talking about the church, who they already know is not perfect because of our over share and their idea of church, how many more might come to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord?

The Pharisees and religion teachers of Jesus’ day didn’t get it, either. They came because of all the talk. They came from all over the country side to watch Him for He had become very popular. They came for the show but missed the Savior.

Luke 5, The Message
17 One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and religion teachers were sitting around. They had come from nearly every village in Galilee and Judea, even as far away as Jerusalem, to be there. The healing power of God was on him.

18-20 Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher. They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus. When they couldn’t find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus. Impressed by their bold belief, he said, “Friend, I forgive your sins.”

21 That set the religion scholars and Pharisees buzzing. “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemous talk! God and only God can forgive sins.”

22-26 Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking and said, “Why all this gossipy whispering? Which is simpler: to say ‘I forgive your sins,’ or to say ‘Get up and start walking’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both. . . .” He now spoke directly to the paraplegic: “Get up. Take your bedroll and go home.” Without a moment’s hesitation, he did it—got up, took his blanket, and left for home, giving glory to God all the way. The people rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then also gave glory to God. Awestruck, they said, “We’ve never seen anything like that!”

As I read, I feel the struggle of the men, trying desperately to get their friend to Jesus. They risked it all, in front of the “important” church leaders, who came to check out the ministry of Jesus and for the show he might perform for them. These stretcher bearers could have been taken to task, beaten or at least sent away, but somehow they were drawn to the Healer, the Savior, Jesus, the Son of God. So it was worth every risk, even removing a few roof tiles in order to lower their sick friend at the feet of Jesus. The friend left with healing AND forgiveness of his sins. (“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Rom 3:23) Awestruck, they said, “We’ve never seen anything like that!”

As we prepare for the biggest attended church event, Easter Sunday, may we prepare our hearts for Jesus, not the show, although many will be knocking themselves out to provide their very best for us. I can appreciate that, but we must come with hearts seeking Jesus, our minds wrapped around how He saved us and our souls exclaiming as we go back to work Monday morning, “We’ve never seen anything like Him!” “We’ve never known anyone like HIM!” Jesus lives and He loves you, me and everyone else who simply believes that He is Lord!

Dear Heavenly Father, We could go on and on about how You have saved us and continue to be with us. Don’t allow us to go for the show but to come with contrite, repentant hearts. May we lower ourselves through the roof of our selfishness, removing every brick of bitterness and sin and focus completely on You, our Savior and our Lord. Every. Day. Forever.
In Jesus Name, Amen