Tuesday, September 24, 2013

September 25, 2013

"A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why  does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Mark 1:1-12

Sunday at FredWes we are having a "Pigskin & Pig-Pickin' Party!"

Why would we do such a thing?

We are doing it in the same spirit of the four friends who carried their friends to Jesus!

We are having a "Pigskin & Pig-Pickin' Party" as a way of bringing our friends to Jesus! We will use something they are familiar with and love - football - to introduce them to Someone we are familiar with and love - Jesus! And we  don't apologize for that!

The "Pigskin & Pig-Pickin' Party" is about faith, fellowship, food and fun! It is a way of tearing holes in some roofs that may have kept some people from getting to Jesus before.

One of the roofs that has kept people from getting to Jesus is the roof of tradition. You may be familiar with the seven last words of the church - "we never done it that way before".

I am going out on a limb to suggest that these four men had never ripped open a roof before. But they did that day!

These weren't destructive men they were determined men desperate to get their friend to Jesus!

Another roof that has kept people from getting to Jesus is the roof of fear. There is the fear of criticism, "What if people get angry at me for ripping up the roof?" There is the fear of rejection, "What if people don't like me for ruining the roof?" There is the fear of failure, "What if he is too heavy for  us to get up to the roof?" "What if the roof is too hard to rip open?" Or, there is fear of involvement, "What if they make me pay to get the roof fixed?" 

A very common roof is the the roof of indifference. "What lame man?"  "What roof?" "What difference does it make?"

So, we are having a "Pigskin & Pig-Pickin' Party" - a roof ripping, friend carrying, Jesus finding and life-changing day!

Let's raise the roof!

September 24, 2013

"A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Mark 1:1-12

What a great story!

This is one of my favorite stories in the Gospel because of what happened, how it happened and why it happened!

Four guys had a friend who was lame. Lame means he lacked the strength in his legs to stand up and walk. That is a terrible way to have to live. He was essentially helpless.

What could be worse than that?

He was soon to find out!

Word spread into his village that the Healer was coming - that man named, Jesus, from Galilee! If only he could get to Jesus there would be a chance that he might get healed! But how could he get there when he couldn't walk?

He would be so close to a miracle, yet so far away!

Meanwhile, down the block, four of his friends were excited about seeing and hearing this Nazarene rabbi. As they were making their plans to head across town to the house where He would be teaching, the idea dawned on one of them. "Hey", he said, " Why don't we swing past Sam's house and carry him over to see this Jesus. If he can get to Jesus maybe he can get healed!

It seemed like such an obvious solution to a burdensome problem! It was a no-brainer! "Let's do it!", they unanimously decided!

So they did!

The each picked up a corner of the mat he laid upon and carried him in the direction of Jesus! 

In their excitement they made very good time getting across town to where Jesus was! But, once they got there they discovered that they were on the outside looking in! Literally!

How disappointing was that? 

Now what?

In a rush of the sort of creativity that can only be inspired by desperation, the idea came! What if they were to climb up to the top of the house, tear open the roof and then lower their buddy right down in front of Jesus. Jesus would have to do something then!

Well, they did tear a hole in the roof, and they did lower him down, and their friend not only got healed - he got saved, too!

Mission accomplished! And then some!

Wow! They were so sure of their faith in Jesus and so desperate to see their friend healed, they refused to allow anything to come between them!

I am inspired by this story! I find it admirable that these friends where so committed to getting their friend to Jesus they refused to let anything stop them!

I am impressed by this story because of their creative way of removing an obstacle that stood between them and Jesus!

But mostly, I am convicted by this story because I don't I have been that determined to bring my friends to Jesus.

I need to repent and have a change of heart.

How about you?