I found myself on Mark, chapter 2 this morning where Jesus is doing pretty awesome things like eating with sinners and healing a man who came down through the roof on a mat. I love this second story, because the man's friends cut a physical hole in the roof of the home to lower him inside in the hopes that Jesus would lay His healing hands upon him.
Can you imagine if this happened today? In America? I don't think I have many friends who would be happy if someone cut a hole in their fancy American homes during the middle of a prayer meeting in the hopes that their friend might have healing. I'm afraid of what I might say if this happened to me (Jesus, please don't test me!)
Yet, this might be exactly what's wrong with our country. We've begun to idolize our possessions over our friendships.
Jesus beautifully shows us something different. A picture of love: Value of a man and that man's faith in Him. He praised the paralyzed man for His great faith, and forgave him of his sins. The greatest gift of all — even better than walking. Yet, he healed the man, too.
Jesus wants healing for us. But mostly, He just wants us. He wants us to come to Him for healing from the inside out. In this very chapter, He illustrates that He sees right inside our hearts (verse 8). None of our thoughts are hidden from Him — not one! And yet, he gently rebukes the Pharisees and tells them "I want you to know." Not a demand. Not an authoritative statement but a gentle cue about who He is. An invitation to get to know Him. Because He already knows us (good, bad and ugly) and loves us immensely.
But the Pharisees just don't get it. They continue throughout the chapter following Jesus around and criticizing and condemning His every law-breaking move.
What a wake-up call this chapter is in my life today! Here is Jesus breaking the very rules established by the church and some by God. Not to be a rebel. But because doing so allowed Him to put people and relationships first.
That sounds like the work of a loving God! Caring less about Himself and how He looked to the religious leaders of the day, discarding His public image. Simply so He could love more.
You see, this is Jesus. He came to eat with sinners. We know who sinners are. The Bible is clear: We have all sinned. We all fall short of receiving a relationship with God. But we can be with God when we accept Him through Jesus, the "way," the truth and the light.
That means we must eat with sinners and break church rules. It means we face judgement and condemnation from religious leaders. This isn't a denominational issue, my friends. Jesus doesn't care. Sorry if that offends you (and maybe you can ask God why it does), but he broke the church laws of His day. And I think He wants to break down the laws of our day.
Not to be a rebel. But to love people. He wants all of us to love like He did. He sees beyond the hole in the roof. He sees beyond the silence of the Pharisees and into their hearts. He sees it all. So the One who understand our motives wants us to understand His. Put people first. Love God and love others. It's really that simple.
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