What kind of miracle are you looking for?

The synoptic gospels all tell about a paralyzed man who was brought to Jesus under the most unusual circumstances and got more than he bargained for. Mark’s gospel (2:3) tells us that four men carried the paralytic and tried to bring him to Jesus but were blocked by a large overflow crowd who had gathered around Jesus as he taught in Peter’s house in Capernaum. But the men who carried the paralytic were on a mission. They were not about to be denied access and in their desperation conceived of an ingenious plan that even impressed Jesus. On many occasions, Jesus lamented that people including his own disciples lacked faith and toward the end of his ministry he wondered if he would find faith when he returned to earth for the second time (Luke 18:8). But, this is one of those times when Jesus found plenty of faith, the kind that could move mountains if
needs be.

For you see, the “Magnificent Four,” found a way to get to Jesus even though a “mountain” of people blocked their way. The homes of Jesus’ day typically had a flat roof that was accessed by way of an outside staircase. The roof was not made of concrete or some other hard substance and, therefore, an opening in the roof could be made so that the paralytic and his handlers could fit through and reach Jesus who was sitting and “holding court” below. We are not given all the specifics on exactly how they reached the ground floor from the top of the roof except that they got it done. I also wondered what happened when they started digging and then later when they started lowering the mat the paralytic was lying on. Did everyone including Jesus train their eyes on them and watch in silence as this “circus act” unfolded before their very eyes?

What I do know is that Jesus knew what to do once the man on the mat was lowered right in front of him. This rare kind of faith needed to be recognized and rewarded. But if their faith was so startling it was met with an even more surprising response by Jesus. They were in quest of an “impossible dream,” Jesus was more focused on his own irrepressible quest- eternal salvation for those who felt their need of the great physician (see Mark 2:17). So Jesus says to him: “Son, your sins are forgiven.” How simple. How sublime. Jesus went to the root of the problem. Deliverance was given from the paralyzing effects of sin that were immediately manifested in that man’s immobilized body. The subsequent freedom to get up from his mat and walk away was almost an afterthought. Our Lord is still in the business of giving us complete wholeness and well being. Let us not settle for far less than what he freely offers. Eternal life and a meaningful life now. Now that’s my kind of miracle. What are you looking for?