Jesus Honored Their Faith

Recently, we studied in Mark chapter 2 the story of the friends of the paralyzed man who set their friend before Jesus through a hole in the roof.

Jesus showed the people that he was God, that he had the authority to forgive sins. For me, at this time in my life, that is not a hard thing to believe. What really struck me as we read this account is how Jesus honored the faith of the man’s friends.

Mark 2:5: When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

At this point, the paralyzed man had not asked Jesus to forgive his sins, or for anything, as far as we can tell. Jesus saw what the men who carried the man were willing to do to help their friend. They push through the crowd, damaged a home, and put themselves in front of the religious leaders. Jesus honored them by forgiving the man’s sins, and by healing him physically.

At that time, there would have been nothing a person with a disability could have done except live at the expense of friends, relatives, or whoever would have been willing to give to him as a beggar. He had no other hope in his life. Jesus had compassion for this man’s great need, and honored what his friends were willing to do for him.

I have no doubt that the man became a follower of Jesus. Whatever his sins, they were forgiven. He was healed, but more important than that, he was made right with God. Jesus met his deepest need, his spiritual need.

The man’s friends risked much to plead for Jesus’ help, and he honored that. It made me realize that I need to be willing to risk much for the people I know of who have a need for Jesus to heal, whatever the need, whatever I need to do to bring them before Jesus.

I want to take risks for people for Jesus. I am not as brave as these men were, but I believe Jesus will honor the truth in my heart—my feeble faith, the small amount I can give, my stumbling words of witness, my heart-felt prayer. Lord, help me to grow in the risks I will take for those you love.

Mark 2:1-12

Quick Snapshots of a Family Trip

For years I’ve made snapshots with words for special memories.

Last Tuesday, my husband Murray, our son Ping-Hwei, and I took a trip to Missouri to visit my mother, then to Iowa to visit our daughter Rebecca. Here are a few snapshots.

Murray, Ping-Hwei, and I spent about thirty-three hours in the car together. We listened to books by two of our favorite authors: John Grisham and Harper Lee.

My mother lives by herself. She has her days and her house settled into a routine she is comfortable with. So we three barge in, to shake things up and trash her house. She was gracious enough to say, “I’m always glad when you come.”

My brother Rodney came to Mom’s to have dinner with us on Thursday night. He said to me, “You still have those orange shoes. Aren’t you ever going to wear those out?”

Murray cooked his Filipino family recipe of green bean chop-sui for my Mom and Rodney, and they both had seconds.

When Rodney left, he put his hand on my shoulder. “Well, Kathy, I’m glad you got to see me.”

Rebecca has a beautiful, fun cat named Millie; Rebecca calls her a cat model. Millie was not happy when we invaded her territory. She spent much of the time we were there hiding in a corner in a closet. When I held out my hand to try to pat her, she sat back on her hind legs, batted furiously at my hand, and spat.

We had our Easter worship service with Rebecca’s church on Saturday night. Murray gave one of his highest compliments to the minister there: “He sure is excited.”

Rebecca volunteers at a local dog shelter. Sage is an American bulldog who suffers a large degree of stress. Whenever the volunteers come to walk the dogs and clean everything up, Sage gets to wait in the car.

Sunday morning, we went with Rebecca for her normal job at the shelter. Murray and Ping-Hwei helped Rebecca walk the dogs and clean up. My job was the best. I sat in the car and kept Sage company.

When Sage is just around people, she is a lovely, sweet, fun girl. She snuggled up against me or laid in my lap, gave me more kisses than I can count, and showed a happy smile in her voice.

Murray, Ping-Hwei, and Rebecca went bowling. Ping-Hwei won both games.

I have never enjoyed shopping, until Rebecca was old enough to take me. The two of us went shopping Monday morning, mostly for gifts which I can’t talk about yet.

Rebecca is an excellent teacher. She showed me how to use dry shampoo.

I brought many fun snapshots home from this trip. These are just a few.

Beautiful Hope

1 Corinthians 15: 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

I will be away from my computer next Friday, so here is an early Easter greeting.

Yes, Friday was black. And for Jesus’ followers, the days ahead remained black. But amazing hope came with Resurrection Sunday, and soon they would share this hope with the world.

The women went to the tomb first, heart-broken, confused, but wanting to serve Jesus still. The tomb was empty, and angels told them Jesus was alive again. They were afraid but filled with joy. Then Jesus met them.

Matthew 28:10: Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

He honored Mary Magdalene by appearing to her, to comfort her and give her a message to share with the disciples. John 20:14-17.

Peter—one of my heroes—wept bitterly after denying Jesus. Matthew 16:15-17. He was afraid to hope Jesus was alive again; didn’t know what to believe. But Jesus had a specific message sent to him, to let Peter know he was still included. Mark 16:7.

Jesus appeared to Peter on his own. Luke 24:34. He reassured Peter that he still trusted him to care for those he, Jesus, loved. John 21:15-17.

Cleopas and his friend were dejected as they walked along the road, but Jesus joined them and explained how the Scriptures showed how his death had to happen. Luke 24:13-35.

Thomas—another hero of mine—was not the only one who doubted. All the apostles did. Luke 24:7-9. But Jesus gave a special gift to Thomas, singling him out, asking Thomas to touch him, convincing Thomas that Jesus was really alive. John 20:24-29.

Jesus leaves a special blessing for us today and—what a privilege—we get to share the assignment he gives to his disciples.

John 20: 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Matthew 28:18-20: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Like Jesus’ disciples I doubt. I am afraid. I am dejected and need to be reminded again and again of God’s will. Just as Peter denied Jesus, I deny him in so many ways, in my words and actions; like Paul, I persecute him. I, too, feel bitter with despair. But Paul reminds us that though we have failed God, with his unbelievable grace and mercy, he is still able to use us. 1 Corinthians 15:10.

We still struggle with blackness today, just like Black Friday. The blackness is our sin, which leads to death. Praise God, Jesus has saved us from all of this.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”