Luke 5:17 – 26 Cf. Mark 2:1 - 12

Recurrent Thought

The work of rescuing the perishing will require focussed determination, creative approaches,

unwavering faith, and united action.

In our efforts to rescue the perishing and light the city, we will need to consider three key

aspects:

1. Identification of need:

All around us are people in desperate need. We always need to pray that the Lord will help us see the need around us.

We need to open our eyes and see the need that is around us. Many are desperate and needing to be “carried” to the saviour, and many times there is no one to carry those in need.

• What needs can you identify in your vicinity?
• What action can you take to address that need?
• Identifying the need is the first step in the right direction!

In the Luke narrative, there is a specific mention of Pharisees and Teachers of the Law who seemed to be among those who sat and listened to Jesus, but in doing so somehow restricted access to Jesus for these men who were carrying their friend. This is outstanding because these “religious leaders/experts” were the ones that could not give way for the men carrying the sick man to get through to Jesus. How many times have we blocked access to Jesus as we sat there and “listened to His teaching”. The Bible says that the power of God was available to heal the sick, but the sick did not have access to Jesus!

• When we have identified the need, we need to act to respond to that.
• Let us not be those who restrict access to where the need would be addressed.

2. Identification of the solution:

The friends of the paralyzed man confidently identified the solution to the challenge there friend faced to be Jesus! After identifying the solution, they had one single purpose – to get their friend to Jesus. They had to do all it took to get access to where the problem would be addressed. This is where it becomes interesting, because while these men were carrying their friend to Jesus because of a physical need that they had identified, a deeper, more serious need was addressed at the feet of Jesus. We see in the passage that Jesus addresses the more serious need first – the forgiveness of sins.

Last week the Senior Pastor talked about “Rice Christians” or “Utumiki wa Makatoni”. We were reminded that our acts of service are not enough in this work of rescuing the perishing. Our ultimate goal should always be to bring people to the feet of Jesus where their spiritual healing will be found. It does not benefit anyone to have perfect physical health, be well fed, well dressed, all their physical needs met, but their spiritual need unaddressed. We will have many healthy, wealthy, empty people transitioning into eternity. You may recall what Jesus Himself said, “For what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul” (Mark 8:36).

We should remember that when we are in this work of rescuing the perishing, our task is to lead them to the one who can heal, clean up, and restore! It is not about us! It is about Jesus! We are vessels chosen to be carriers of this message of light. In ourselves, we are nothing! It is Jesus who makes the difference.

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

3. Recognising joint efforts

In these days of seeking to be known and be “an influencer”, we run into the danger of being “lone wolves” or “lone super heroes”. The task that we have been called to is too big for us to accomplish alone. We will fail! We need to recognise the power that is found in unity. The unity of purpose should move us to serve the community where we identify the needs together. There is always a temptation to be recognised as the one who effected the change. In the days of social media, we will post something like – “greatly honoured to have effected this change in the life of such … such… such…”. We draw attention to ourselves, and many times that is done so we can be identified as the influencer who is effective in “helping others”. While that has its own place and good, we run into the danger of not wanting to join hands with others, lest the glory is shared!!

The friends of the man in the story worked together. Their names are not even mentioned. Jesus does not even address them to congratulate them for the great work they had done in bringing the friend. Of course, the word just says that He saw their faith. These men acted in united faith.

Can you imagine what would have happened if they started arguing on how to help their friend?

Can you imagine one of them just saying, “Ah! I will carry him on my back and take him to Jesus – leave this to me!”

No! Instead, we are told that they did something really radical together. I try to imagine them going up the roof of the house… setting their friend down so they could make a hole big enough to let the friend down … locating the exact place where Jesus was… and making a mess of the building! Can you imagine! They worked in unity. They had a goal, and they decided to work together to the end – until their friend got help. Nothing was going to stop them – not even the eventual cost of repairing a damaged house!

• May we be united in our purpose as we seek to rescue the perishing!
• Some of it will get messy and costly, but there are souls to be rescued, and we are the ones called to that service.

Conclusion

The task to rescue the perishing is not an easy one. As we carry on this work,

• we need to stand together in faith;
• look out for those in need;
• constantly point those in need to Jesus, and;
• be willing to embark on daring action with determination for the sake of the souls of the perishing!

May the Lord help each one of us to take our rightful place and serve!

Altar Time

• LORD, help me to identify the need requiring my action
• LORD, help me to lead people to where the perfect solution is
• LORD, make me a team player