Thoughts for the Day

One day, while Jesus was preaching,the Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting nearby (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem), and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. Just then some men came, carrying a paralysed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, 'Friend, your sins are forgiven you.' Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, 'Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?'

When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, 'Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven you", or to say, "Stand up and walk?" But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins' - he said to the one who was paralysed - 'I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home'. Immediately, he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, from New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The man and his friends in our reading, are absolutely determined to do everything they can to get to Jesus and ask Him to heal the man. They were even prepared to carry him on his bed up the outside staircase to the roof and then to take apart the thatch or tiles that were laid across the beams, before lowering him down on ropes to Jesus. These four friends had tremendous faith that Jesus would heal their friend.

2,000 years ago the people believed illness was caused by sin. So Jesus says "Your sins are forgiven you". But to make it absolutely clear he also tells the man to stand up and walk.

Today, we have access to God's healing power, through prayer. But how often is our prayer only for ourselves, or our loved ones? We need to pray constantly for all who need our prayer - and keep persisting - like the man and his friends. Amazing things still happen!

Monday 7th December, follow up thoughts

Lord Jesus,
help us to be persistent
in our prayer,
and to remember
all those who need our help.
May we keep updating
our prayer requests,
as things change,
and never give up.
Amen.