September 15

Where There's A Will There's A Way!

but they could not find a way through the crowd. So they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. — Luke 5:19 BSB

What a beautiful story of human compassion! The crowds that gathered around our Lord as He taught were so large that they filled not only the house where He was staying—with Pharisees and learned men sitting nearby—but spilled out into a vast multitude in the courtyard. The Master may have been standing on the balcony of a two-story house, allowing Him to reach both those inside and outside.

As He was teaching, four men approached, carrying a paralyzed man on a hammock between them. Though we are not explicitly told they were young men, their earnestness and ingenuity suggest it. Perhaps they had been childhood friends, growing up together and maybe even straying down sinful paths in their youth. One of them may have been suffering the consequences, for our Lord clearly prioritized the forgiveness of his sins before the healing of his body. It’s likely that these four friends had already heard Christ preach and become His followers, for it was “seeing their faith” that Jesus performed this miracle of salvation and healing. Determined to bring their friend into Christ’s presence, they weren’t discouraged when they couldn’t reach Him through the crowd. Instead, they climbed onto the roof and “let him down through the tiles.” Lowered by strong hands on four ropes, the hammock swung to the feet of the Master. The pleading eyes of this poor man were a powerful appeal for help, just as much as the faith of his companions.

Jesus greeted him with tender, gracious words: “Man, your sins are forgiven.” Spiritual cleansing and forgiveness are often the first steps toward physical healing (James 5:14-16). Oh, that we were all as eager to bring our friends to Christ! If four people agreed about a fifth and wouldn’t rest until that person was brought to Jesus, what a revival would begin (John 4:28-30).

Prayer

Enlarge our souls with Divine Love, so that we may hope in all things, endure all things, and become messengers of Your healing mercy to the struggles and weaknesses of others. Amen.