The Lutheran Hour
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"Not As Easy As It Looks"
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Text: Mark 2:1-5
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Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Today the call goes out. Come to the Savior who cares. Come to the Savior who carries your sins. Come to the Savior who lived for us, died for us, rose for us, and intercedes for us. Come to the Savior who, standing before His empty tomb compassionately says, “Son, daughter, your sins are forgiven.” An elderly woman lived alone. She was not different than hundreds of thousands of other little, old women and men who live alone. Crippled, she had to rely pretty much on the assistance and aid of her neighbors. That, too, does not make her unique. What was special about her is that she, even with her limited life, kept a daily diary. If you had known her you would have wondered, “Why bother? There just isn’t that much to record.” Until the day the Lord took her home, this woman faithfully wrote down the events of her life.
The police report said she had been dead “for a while” before someone missed her or found her. They said there was no evidence of foul play. They said she died of natural causes. They said her diary held nothing of interest for police or coroner. You, however, might be one of those few who find what she wrote interesting. Through the last weeks of her life, she had repeatedly written the same three words: “Nobody came today.” When I heard that story, I said to myself, “I hope, if I had known this lady, I would have come to visit her.” I hope I would. I hope my compassion would make me feel pain when someone else hurts.
Compare that story with one carried by The Associated Press in March of 1994. It was a tale of some fifth-graders who attended Lake Elementary School in Oceanside, California. The most eye-catching part of the story was the accompanying picture. It showed, for all the world to see, 14 very bald boys. The article told about Ian Ogorman. Ian had been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. Knowing it was more than probable he would lose his hair, Ian took the initiative and had his head shaved. Of course, a single bald boy is going to draw a fair amount of attention, and generally, attention is not something a fifth-grade boy wants. Knowing that, one of his classmates, Kyle Hanslik said, “The last thing he (Ian) would want is to not fit in. We wanted to make him feel better.” That’s why 13 of Ian’s classmates trooped down to the barbershop, plunked down in the chair and had their heads shaved. Christian compassion should make you feel pain when someone else hurts.
If you understand that statement about compassion, you will understand this story from Scripture I’m going to share. If you can understand that story, you will appreciate, applaud, and adore the Savior who has come to save us from our sins. The Christ, who gave His life upon Calvary’s cruel cross, is compassion. He felt our pain. He felt it when humanity hurt.
The story starts during Jesus’ first year of ministry. Ever since His baptism, He had been on the road preaching, teaching, and healing. Everywhere He went He was mauled by the mobs, surrounded by the sick, and questioned by the curious. This day was no different. He had come to His adopted home of Capernaum and an impromptu audience arrived. They filled the house, no, they overflowed the house where He was teaching. Many wanted to hear about a God who would summon souls from sin to salvation. But, please don’t assume that everybody gathered was supportive of the Savior. Two groups, the Pharisees and teachers of the law, had come to critique the Christ (Luke 5:17). Later on, both of those groups would be involved with the murder of our Lord. But on that day, they were there to listen. You can almost see them, struggling, jostling, pushing to get close to the Master. They didn’t want to miss a shred of evidence that might be used against Him in a court of law. So, friends and foes of the Savior sat. Some sat with hearts of hope; others sat with heads filled with hatred. And they filled the place where Jesus was teaching.
To such a place came four nameless friends carrying an equally nameless paralytic. Scripture doesn’t tell us much about them. I am comfortable in saying these men of faith were also men of compassion. Remember what we said, “Compassion makes you feel pain when someone else hurts.” Their crippled companion was hurt, so they brought him to the only One who could offer him hope. At any rate, the place was packed. They tried to get in. No one moved to the side. No one gave up his spot. No one cleared a path. “After all,” those human statues might have thought, “I got here first. If this guy wanted to have a good seat, he should have come earlier. He made his bed and now he has to sleep in it.”
Now the story could have ended with the insiders inside and the outsiders outside. Most times, it’s the way such stories end. The four friends should have looked at each other and sighed, “Well, we tried. We gave it our best, didn’t we, lads? Maybe we can come back later.” And then, if they had had them, the four friends would have taken out their palm pilots and tried to find a time and future day that was convenient. Not finding any such day, they would have gone home and thought with pleasure about the day they tried to bring a friend to Jesus.
But that’s not the way the story ends. You see, compassion makes you feel pain when someone else hurts. These four knew their pal was hurting and, because he hurt, they hurt, too. They were not about to let a small thing like a blocked door get in their way. The four friends looked around for alternatives. They went to Plan B. They probably didn’t have a Plan B before that moment. But compassion is also the mother of invention.
Plan B, I confess, was a tad on the unorthodox side. Step 1 of Plan B had them going up the stairs on the outside of the house. Houses back then often had stairs so the owners could get up on the roof and enjoy a cool breeze in the evening or morning. Forget handicapped accessibility; forget railings; forget elevators. Four friends, with a pal, would climb the stairs. To keep the litter level and their friend from rolling off, the guys in front had to bend down and the guys in back had to lift up. Not a single one said, “Hey, I have a bad back. The doctor told me no serious lifting.” Compassion makes you feel pain when someone else hurts.
Step 2 of Plan B had them calculating, as best they could, the precise point where Jesus was standing, one floor beneath their feet. Having made those calculations, Step 2 had them knock a hole in the roof–not a teeny tiny hole. No, sir. Step 2 had them knock a stretcher-size hole in that ceiling. Then, when they had the hole and before anyone could stop them, they would immediately proceed with Step 3. Step 3 of plan B was simple. All they had to do was play out the ropes attached to their friend’s stretcher. A little too fast on one corner or a small slip and he would go tumbling. Hand-over-hand they would play out those ropes until their friend made a soft landing in front of the Savior.
Once again, not one of those guys got practical. Not one of them said, “We’ve never done it that way before.” Nobody said, “Knocking a hole in someone’s ceiling can lead to a law-suit.” Nobody said, “Let’s rethink this.” In comparison, Pharisees aren’t going to appreciate pieces of plaster, hunks of wood, and bits of branches raining down on them.” These things were not said, or, if they were said, they were disregarded. These guys were not on a mission from God–they were on a mission to God. Compassion makes you feel pain when someone else hurts.
I like these guys. I hope I would have been one of them, tearing down all my logical stumbling blocks to support Plan B. I hope I would have. I hope so because God likes people who tear down stumbling blocks. God likes it when people say, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Phillipians 4:13). God likes it when people become “fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He has promised” (Romans 4:21). God likes it when people believe He is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine….” (Ephesians 3:20).
Plan B kicked in. Compassion had the four friends climb the stairs. Compassion had them make the roof’s tear. Compassion had them lower their friend. And then, the four friends waited. You can see them up there, can’t you? Through the haze and dust, they peer through the hole. The paralytic waits. His heart would have been pounding. The people, brushing the debris off their robes, were waiting. It didn’t take long. Jesus did something unexpected. As far as I can tell, He did something unique among the many miracles He performed. Jesus, seeing the faith of the four friends who had thought up and implemented Plan B, said to the cripple, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Hearing that, a lot of folks started thinking, “Big deal. Not much of a miracle, Jesus. The cripple still looks pretty crippled.” Knowing their uncompassionate thoughts, Jesus quickly continued, “And because I want you to know I’m not whistling in the wind; because I want you to know My authority is very real, watch this.” Then, turning back to the cripple, the Savior said, “Get up. Take up your bed. Go home.” I like this part The room that once had had no room for a cripple to come in, the people who couldn’t be persuaded to make a path, almost magically, moved aside. The cripple walked and everybody said, “Wow! We’ve never seen anything like that.” And they hadn’t. Nor have you.
Well, that’s not exactly right, is it? You who are among the blessed; whose names are written in God’s book of eternal life, have seen that kind of thing, haven’t you? You were once a sinner, but Jesus has said, “Your sins are forgiven.” You were once a cripple, a spiritual invalid. But a friend or family member brought you to the Savior. You heard the words of love from Him who gave His life upon the cross so you might have eternal life in heaven. You saw the face of Him who fulfilled all the laws you had broken. You looked upon His hands that were nailed to a cross. You saw the side that was ripped by a spear. You, too, have felt His love. Jesus made you well.
Your healing took place when the Holy Spirit called you to faith in Jesus. He and He alone gets the credit for moving you from death to life. Most of us were blessed to have someone who carried us to the place and time of heavenly healing and divine deliverance. Most of us were blessed to know someone who risked enough and cared enough to carry us to the Christ. It was a small thing they did, but it was something. It is more than the nothing many people do.
In Capernaum, there were only four friends who felt the pain of their friend and were moved to compassionate action. Today, in too many of our nation’s churches, too many satisfied saints sit still. Too few Christians are committed to carrying the spiritually sick to the Savior. Too few are willing to move aside to let invalids pass to the One who can forgive their sins and help them with healing. Today, Lutheran Hour Ministries is rededicated to helping those who wish to carry the sick to the Savior. We are committed to sharing His hope, His healing, His heaven to those hurting. We are committed to helping you with Plan A and Plan B, and, if necessary, invent and implement Plan C, D and E. Saving souls is the Savior’s commission to us. To pastors and parishes, to clergy and congregations, we wish to help you carry the spiritual cripples to Christ’s care, compassion and salvation. Together, let us do what is necessary. We want them all to know that while the world might say, “You made your bed, sleep in it,” Jesus says, “Take up your bed and walk. Your sins are forgiven.”
In the 1800’s, a crippled boy was hurrying to catch a train. Carrying gifts under his arm, he struggled with his crutches. A man bumped into him. Parcels flew every which way. The man paused to scold the boy for getting in his way. That’s when another gentleman, seeing the boy upset, picked up the gifts, gave him a few coins, and said, “I’m sorry! I hope this helps.” The boy, unused to such kindness, called out, “Mister, thank you! And sir, are you Jesus?” “No,” replied the man, “but I am one of His followers.” One of Jesus’ followers. That describes the four friends. I pray it describes you and me. I hope it does because the Lord has entrusted to us the tremendous task of carrying the crippled to Christ. He has asked us to carry those who have been maimed by life, ripped by transgression, or raped by hatred and prejudice. Only He has the authority to say, “Your sins are forgiven. Rise and walk.”
Today, if you are among the many who have no one to call “Lord,” let us carry you to the Christ. To those who have forgotten the Lord who died to set you free, let us carry you to Him who died so you might live forgiven and free. Don’t put it off. Don’t think you are not worthy. Don’t think you are too good. Don’t let anything stand in your way. If you need to climb the stairs, we will climb them with you. If you need to tear a hole in the roof so you can see the Savior, we will lend a hand. If you need to have us hold you fast lest you slip, we will hold you with every bit of our strength. If you have no one to carry you to the Christ, call Lutheran Hour Ministries today. If you need a face-to-face friend, we will make the introduction. Jesus waits. Jesus wishes to make a deliverance in your life.
Let us carry you to Jesus. In His Word, the Spirit will show and convince you that you will never see or hear or know anybody who can do what He does. Do you think you have smart friends who can help you? In Capernaum’s crowd, there were some smart guys. Guess what–the smart guys couldn’t help the man who was crippled. Do you have some rich friends you trust for assistance? In Capernaum’s crowd, there were some rich guys. Surprise! The rich guys couldn’t make a difference in that paralytic’s life. In Capernaum’s crowd, there were some caring people, too. But all their care and compassion couldn’t make a change for this sick man. Only Jesus could make a difference to a cripple back then. Only Jesus makes a difference today.
In 1997 (July 18), the television program “20/20” featured a story on baseball player Bret Butler. He was suffering from cancer. Bret told how his daughter, after she found her daddy had cancer, had come to him. She said, “Daddy, I prayed to Jesus that He would give me your cancer.” Bret asked, “What did you do that for?” “Because, daddy, I can handle the pain better than watching you in pain.” I love that little girl for her intentions. But she couldn’t take away her daddy’s pain. No matter how much she loved him, she couldn’t carry his pain. No one can do that–except for Jesus. Jesus came to live for us, die for us, and rise for us. Jesus came to heal the crippled of heart and soul. Today He says, “Brother, sister, I have asked the Father to give Me your sin, your sadness, your sickness, your sorrows. I can handle the pain better than you.” Such a Savior who says such things is worth knowing. Come, meet Him. We will carry you. Call us. Don’t wait. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for Feb. 23, 2003
ANNOUNCER: We’re with Pastor Ken Klaus today as he responds to a listener’s comment. I’m Mark Eischer. Pastor Klaus, a listener recently called our response center and said, “At times I feel very close to God and feel that He is indeed with me, but other times I feel alone, afraid and unsure about everything.”
KLAUS: Did you notice what stands out is that our listener repeatedly used the phrase “I feel.”
ANNOUNCER: Is there anything wrong with that?
KLAUS: There is certainly nothing wrong with feelings in and of themselves. Emotions are a wonderful gift and blessing from God. However, they can also be twisted, perverted and used by the devil against us.
ANNOUNCER: Emotions are a gift from God?
KLAUS: Absolutely. They are a part of who we are. They make up a complete person. Jesus, our perfect Savior, displayed a great many emotions. He was sorrowful when the disciples fell asleep instead of watching and praying with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. There’s nothing wrong with emotions. They are part of us. But emotions can be twisted by the devil. The Bible tells us every good and perfect gift we have comes from God. Now, if every good and perfect gift comes from God, it stands to reason the devil would do his best to subvert and pervert those gifts, like he does all the others.
ANNOUNCER: Could you give us an example?
KLAUS: Surely. Adam and Eve felt it was OK to eat from the forbidden tree. It wasn’t. Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, felt it was OK to add their own ideas to the worship God had prescribed. It wasn’t. At Jericho, Achan felt it was OK to take some of the spoils from the city. It wasn’t. The Bible records a lot of times when people felt things were all right. But their feelings were wrong.
ANNOUNCER: And how does that apply to our listener?
KLAUS: He or she said, “I feel close to God” and then “I feel alone.” Now do you suppose God is the one who’s moving around? I don’t think so.
ANNOUNCER: Jesus said, “He is always with us even until the end of the age.”
KLAUS: Right. And that’s where the Bible says, “Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you.”
ANNOUNCER: So if God doesn’t move . . .
KLAUS: If God hasn’t moved, it means our listener has moved, or isn’t looking for God where He has promised to be found. God wants to bring us close to Him. Jesus is always standing there, arms wide open, calling sinners to repentance in faith. He is always there inviting us, welcoming us.
ANNOUNCER: So we shouldn’t base our faith on our feelings.
KLAUS: Certainly never on any feelings which say God has left you or you are alone. If you feel something that contradicts what the Bible says, then you dare not trust that feeling.
ANNOUNCER: Are there other examples of feelings that might be dangerous?
KLAUS: I’d be glad to share a couple. Christians know Jesus died to take away their sins. We also know there is no sin too great for Jesus to remove. But I’ve met people who still feel they committed the sin that can’t be forgiven. They believe Jesus forgives every sin other than their “special sin.” That kind of hyperactive conscience, that kind of feeling, is wrong. It comes from the devil and their own sinful nature. On the other side of the coin and just as common, are those folks who feel they haven’t done anything wrong even though the Bible clearly says we were all born in sin and daily break God’s commandments. When people feel that way, their feelings are also wrong. God doesn’t approve of sin and if someone feels differently, those feelings are wrong. Mark, one more thing, as long as we’re talking about feelings. Nowadays, a lot of people when they move into a new town, they go church shopping.
ANNOUNCER: Is that necessarily wrong?
KLAUS: No, not wrong. Looking for a church where you can worship the Savior and receive God’s gifts is fine, but sometimes people use the wrong criteria.
ANNOUNCER: And what’s that?
KLAUS: It’s not wise if they base their search solely on feelings. First, they should find a church that preaches the Word in its truth and purity. They should find a church that administers God’s sacraments, according to God’s Word. People should find those things first. Then, they can find a congregation that fits their feelings in a positive way.
ANNOUNCER: So it’s not an either-or?
KLAUS: Not at all. It should be a “both-and.” Doctrine first, feelings second. If people do that, then they’ve got the best of both worlds.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Pastor Klaus. The next Lutheran Hour message is titled, “Listening to Jesus.”