“They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above His head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’” (Mark 2:4-5 NLT)
Jessica McClure Morales (born March 26, 1986; widely known as “Baby Jessica” in 1987) fell into a well in her aunt’s backyard in Midland, Texas, on October 14, 1987, at the age of 18 months. Over the next 58 hours, rescuers worked to free her from the 8 inch well casing, about 22 ft below grade by digging a parallel shaft big enough for a man to be lowered into, then drilling a hole between the two shafts that enabled him to reach through and free the toddler. The story garnered worldwide attention, which resulted in a 1989 ABC television movie about the events entitled: Everybody’s Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure.
The point for our purpose is that conventional means couldn’t have enabled anyone to rescue the toddler. They had to think outside the proverbial “box” and work quickly or the little girl would have died. Consider what measures were taken to free “Baby Jessica” when you read the verses above. We don’t know the paralyzed man’s name; we only know that some of his friends loved Him enough to do whatever they needed to do to get him to Jesus.
Did you notice that when Jesus pronounced the man’s healing, He didn’t credit the man’s faith as being responsible, but his friends’ faith. “Seeing their faith!” Why is that so important? Two reasons. First, the man couldn’t have gotten to Jesus without help. And, secondly, since we don’t know how old he was or how long he’d been in his crippled condition, we don’t know if he could have ever mustered the faith to believe for himself.
How many people in our spheres of influence fall into one or both of those categories? People who can’t or won’t go to Jesus on their own, and/or they don’t have faith to believe Jesus would or could make any difference in their life’s circumstances. The plot thickens because some whom we know well aren’t “crippled” physically, but spiritually, mentally, emotionally, financially, relationally, or __________ and you can fill in the blank.
Perhaps, like me, you’ve tried conventional means and methods to reach loved ones and friends for the Lord, but to no avail. So, for all intent and purpose, we’ve given up. Yes, of course, we continue to pray and believe God will work miraculously, but to date nothing has changed, for them or us as we view their lostness.
During one of my recent walks, I saw one of my neighbors with whom I’ve been nurturing a relationship for many months, but this time when I asked him if he’d be open to attending church with me, without hesitation he said, “Yes!” I’ve shared with Him on several occasions about who Jesus is, what He’s done, and why, but with almost no response. Why the “sudden” interest?
I’m sensing in my spirit that God is going to release an unprecedented outpouring of His Spirit on those who have open hearts and minds to be used of God in unconventional means. The young man I referred to is only in his 40’s, but he’s had a stroke that has made it difficult for him to do anything for himself, but I’m going to do whatever I can to see that He gets to the feet of Jesus.
Like that little girl so many years ago, let’s covenant together to trust the Lord to use us however He desires to be light and love to those who walk in darkness, even if it’s in a way we’d never thought of before.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 