1055. An Interrupted Service
An Interrupted Service
"And they came unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
"And when they could not come nigh unto Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where He was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay" (Mar_2:3-4).
It is not everyone who can brook interruption as did our Lord Jesus. While He was preaching in Capernaum as unprecedented thing occurred. Let us follow its trend.
1. There was a certain paralytic. His name is not given. He stands before us simply as one of many who had a great need. He was sick of the palsy. As the Lord was speaking four men went and fetched him.
God give us more men such as these four. It is the personal touch that counts most in the long run. There are scores of people who never go to church and never will go unless some one goes and brings them. If it takes four men to get one man, then let four men go. We must go out after the lost until we find them and bring them to the Lord.
2. They brought him to Jesus. That was the proper thing to do. They could not heal the paralytic, but they could bring him to One Who could heal him.
Philip could not meet Nathanael's questions; yet, he could say, "Come and see;" he could bring Nathanael to Jesus.
Where else could they have taken the poor sufferer? The doctors could not help him, the schools would not have sufficed.
3. They found obstacles in the way. The crowds were packed in too tight for them to get to Christ. Such is often the case. Not but that there is a physical possibility of a sinner, in most church buildings, finding room enough to get to the altar or anywhere else, (unless it be to the dining-room), yet, many times the people are in the way.
There are those who hinder the sinner's approach to God. Perhaps the hinderers are "church-members" in the sinner's own home, perhaps the hinderers are Godless religionists, who serve the devil all the week, and take prominent part in the church on Sundays.
Obstacles, however, only hinder the indifferent. When the sinner is dead in earnest, there is always a way to God. "Then shall ye find Me when ye search for Me with all your heart."
4. They came to Christ by way of the roof. We can almost see the four as they bear the bed around to the rear of the dwelling. They busy themselves with getting on the low tiled roof. Then up come the tiles and, then, their desire is won. Down before the Lord they lower the palsied man.
"Too spectacular," say some, too much out of the ordinary say others, but the man borne of four cares not for the "how," just so he gets to Jesus.
Where is the lost soul who will brave anything and everything in his quest for God? Is not salvation worth some inconvenience? Is not Heaven worth something more than the regular routine of doing things? To the winds with your conservative niceties. Anything that is right and honorable to get to God.
We have often broken the Spirit's mighty power by confining Him to programs and forms and slated acts. Let us give the Spirit liberty, let us break up conventionalities to let the paralytics get in to God.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR