Well what happened next was truly amazing. There I was right in front of Jesus and in front of these religious men who seemed to be looking on with suspicion. Jesus first of all glanced up at my four friends who were peering down through the hole looking all expectant and gave them some kind of knowing look which said because of your faith I can act.
Looking at me he said "son, your sins are forgiven". Well how did he know that I was racked with guilt because of all the wrong and hurt I had done and caused. I mean I had never met him and too my knowledge neither had my four friends. This, to me was divine revelation. Jesus seemed to know that I needed forgiveness not just to be made well. It was in that moment that something came alive in me, as if something beyond my control was beginning to happen. Just then Jesus perceived the criticism of all those in the room with us and rebuked the people around us for questioning in their hearts that he was able to forgive sins, surely only God can do that and He's not here, is He? Well what happened next was momentous, you could cut the air with a knife. Jesus just said "Is it easier to say your sins are forgiven or take up your bed and walk?, just so you know that the son of man has power on earth to forgive sins I say take up your bed and go home."
Immediately may legs and back came to life and up I got.
There was a stunned silence while the crowd watched me then there was clapping and great sounds of joy as I made my way through the crowds to the door. It was amazing, to be the reason for so much rejoicing, I can't begin to tell you how I felt. Here I was, one minute not able to walk and the next walking. But despite this great miracle Jesus original words still hung in my ears, "son your sins are forgiven you". I knew that even though Jesus had told me to take up my bed he had actually forgiven me. Something inside me had been touched, I now had a realisation that there was a spirit world and that a heavenly father wanted to have a relationship with me. After all Jesus had called me son. I don't know if any one else picked that up but I certainly did, I mean son, I had never met the man before yet here he was calling me son. That to me meant that there had to be a father and that I now had been bought in, or if you like adopted into a new family. Well the excitement was overwhelming. I needed to find out more. This was not the end this was the beginning and to top it all I could now walk. I had to go and tell someone of the great things that Jesus has done for me. I never returned to my old ways and neither did my friends we all became ambassadors for this new found faith that was transforming our lives.
Just to show how much we were changed we did something we had never done before, we went back and repaired the roof. It felt amazing to be giving rather than taking. All I can say is thank you Jesus.
Showing posts with label mark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mark. Show all posts
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Friday, 26 February 2010
Mark 2 Session 8
Days dragged into weeks and weeks into months until I did not really know what day of the week it was.
The days seem to drift from one to another and I really have no idea how long I had been lying on the floor of my parents house when suddenly my four 'friends' from days gone by came into the room. My mother was trying to prevent them she was saying "haven't you done enough damage already", "just leave us alone". I had never seen my friends so persistent before, but on this occasion they were persistent. They had bought a make shift stretcher that had been thrown together in rather a hurry, rolled me onto it and began to carry me down the street with my mother crying behind us and me shouting to them to put me down and take me home. I don't know if you have ever been in that situation where your not in control, awful isn't it?
Eventually I realised that there was a crowd, this took my mind off the fact that I was being carried against my will. As we drew closer I asked why the crowd and where were we going? The answer was "Jesus is in the house". I had heard of this guy, well who hadn't he was big news, not really for what he said, although that was big news because he was claiming he was the Son of God. Well we had heard that God had got a son and that he would send him, I mean we had all heard about these crack pot prophets of old telling us this for centuries. In the end you just glaze over don't you? No, the real big news was that it had been rumoured that this Jesus guy could perform miracles. That was BIG NEWS. No wonder my friends were so persistent.
As we drew near it became apparent that we were not going to get anywhere near this Jesus. My friends were visibly disappointed at this, I suppose that they were convinced that if only we could see Jesus He would heal me. It was evident from their faces and their actions that they really believed that Jesus was the answer. I noticed a difference, I don't know what had happened but they were different, all four of them, they were intent on getting me to Jesus, quite determined, as if to say "what Jesus has done for us He can do for you". In hind sight I suppose you would call it faith, that is in fact exactly what Jesus did called call it, but I am running ahead of myself.
As we were desperately trying to get into the house by legal means, you know through the door, and as it was becoming blatantly obvious that this was a no go area, suddenly one of the four said excitedly "lets revert back to whet we know, up on the roof". Before I could protest one was off to get the tools while the other three started to find the best way through the crowd and onto the roof of the house where Jesus was.
Within minutes number four returned and without wasting any more time we were on the roof. I watched in disbelief as my friends began to dismantle the roof, without a sound. I had given up protesting by this time and just helplessly lay their waiting for the next move. As the hole got bigger and as it became apparent that there was a disturbance on the roof the crowd went quiet.
My friends swung me over the hole and down into the room right in front of this Jesus. I still only knew about him, I mean I had heard stories about him, to me he was just another man who, apparently can heal. I suppose that made him a bit special, but I had no personal experience of that as yet. I had been lying on my back unable to move as a result of my sin and I began to realise that it was not physical healing I needed but spiritual healing. In that moment I began to understand that I was more than just a body with a spirit somewhere that had been suppressed. The lights started to go on and I realised that I was a spirit with a body. Something began to stir inside me that wanted to be free of all this guilt that had been bought about through my own selfish desire, this desire that drove me away from God and not toward Him.
The days seem to drift from one to another and I really have no idea how long I had been lying on the floor of my parents house when suddenly my four 'friends' from days gone by came into the room. My mother was trying to prevent them she was saying "haven't you done enough damage already", "just leave us alone". I had never seen my friends so persistent before, but on this occasion they were persistent. They had bought a make shift stretcher that had been thrown together in rather a hurry, rolled me onto it and began to carry me down the street with my mother crying behind us and me shouting to them to put me down and take me home. I don't know if you have ever been in that situation where your not in control, awful isn't it?
Eventually I realised that there was a crowd, this took my mind off the fact that I was being carried against my will. As we drew closer I asked why the crowd and where were we going? The answer was "Jesus is in the house". I had heard of this guy, well who hadn't he was big news, not really for what he said, although that was big news because he was claiming he was the Son of God. Well we had heard that God had got a son and that he would send him, I mean we had all heard about these crack pot prophets of old telling us this for centuries. In the end you just glaze over don't you? No, the real big news was that it had been rumoured that this Jesus guy could perform miracles. That was BIG NEWS. No wonder my friends were so persistent.
As we drew near it became apparent that we were not going to get anywhere near this Jesus. My friends were visibly disappointed at this, I suppose that they were convinced that if only we could see Jesus He would heal me. It was evident from their faces and their actions that they really believed that Jesus was the answer. I noticed a difference, I don't know what had happened but they were different, all four of them, they were intent on getting me to Jesus, quite determined, as if to say "what Jesus has done for us He can do for you". In hind sight I suppose you would call it faith, that is in fact exactly what Jesus did called call it, but I am running ahead of myself.
As we were desperately trying to get into the house by legal means, you know through the door, and as it was becoming blatantly obvious that this was a no go area, suddenly one of the four said excitedly "lets revert back to whet we know, up on the roof". Before I could protest one was off to get the tools while the other three started to find the best way through the crowd and onto the roof of the house where Jesus was.
Within minutes number four returned and without wasting any more time we were on the roof. I watched in disbelief as my friends began to dismantle the roof, without a sound. I had given up protesting by this time and just helplessly lay their waiting for the next move. As the hole got bigger and as it became apparent that there was a disturbance on the roof the crowd went quiet.
My friends swung me over the hole and down into the room right in front of this Jesus. I still only knew about him, I mean I had heard stories about him, to me he was just another man who, apparently can heal. I suppose that made him a bit special, but I had no personal experience of that as yet. I had been lying on my back unable to move as a result of my sin and I began to realise that it was not physical healing I needed but spiritual healing. In that moment I began to understand that I was more than just a body with a spirit somewhere that had been suppressed. The lights started to go on and I realised that I was a spirit with a body. Something began to stir inside me that wanted to be free of all this guilt that had been bought about through my own selfish desire, this desire that drove me away from God and not toward Him.
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Mark 2 Session 7
We had cased this joint for weeks, we had observed the movements, we knew where the dogs were kept at night, we knew how many people lived there and what time they came in and went out. We knew they were wealthy. The house was situated in a prime location, we would be able to get up on the roof relatively undetected, quietly remove the roof, take our loot and be across the roof tops before the alarm was raised.
We were so arrogant it never occurred to us that anything would go wrong, after all it hadn't up till now so why should it now. I suppose you could say this form of living had become so familiar we just did it. We had become so used to doing wrong that actually it seemed right. We had no sense of guilt whatsoever.
Well this night my whole life was about to change, we conducted our business and were just about complete when the alarm was raised, don't ask me how, all I remember was a shout and a command from one of the friends shouting 'leg it'. So off we went over the roofs, my heart was pounding, my head was spinning and my legs went to jelly. I had never been like this before as I had always been in control of the escape situation so was more sure footed. The next thing I remember is seering pain in my back, blood everywhere, legs that would not move and somewhere in the distance dogs barking. Some how I managed to muster enough strength through the pain to drag myself into an alley and wait to die or so I thought.
As I lay there in this dreadful state so many thoughts came flooding back to me, "Oh I wish I had listened to my parents", "Be sure your sin will find you out" they used to quote at me. I had terrible waves of remorse, not for what I had dedicated my life to but for the fact that I was lying here and had fallen and could be caught.
As day break came I heard, through the semi consciousness, voices. As I opened my eyes I saw the blurred faces of my four friends peering down at me. They talked amongst themselves then lifted me and carried me back to my parents, laid me on a mat and left me. My parents were horrified but never the less they took me back, cleaned me up and tended to my every need. As time went on it became obvious that I was unable to walk. The injury had been so severe that I was now paralysed from the waste down.
This just made things worse, all the remorse that I had not listen to my parents, the guilt that I was now more work for them. It went on and on in my head. What also made it worse was that my four so called friends never came to visit. For the first time in my life I was alone. I could go on and tell you more of how I felt but it would serve no purpose.
I lay there thinking is there any hope? Do I have to live with this situation and this guilt for ever?
We were so arrogant it never occurred to us that anything would go wrong, after all it hadn't up till now so why should it now. I suppose you could say this form of living had become so familiar we just did it. We had become so used to doing wrong that actually it seemed right. We had no sense of guilt whatsoever.
Well this night my whole life was about to change, we conducted our business and were just about complete when the alarm was raised, don't ask me how, all I remember was a shout and a command from one of the friends shouting 'leg it'. So off we went over the roofs, my heart was pounding, my head was spinning and my legs went to jelly. I had never been like this before as I had always been in control of the escape situation so was more sure footed. The next thing I remember is seering pain in my back, blood everywhere, legs that would not move and somewhere in the distance dogs barking. Some how I managed to muster enough strength through the pain to drag myself into an alley and wait to die or so I thought.
As I lay there in this dreadful state so many thoughts came flooding back to me, "Oh I wish I had listened to my parents", "Be sure your sin will find you out" they used to quote at me. I had terrible waves of remorse, not for what I had dedicated my life to but for the fact that I was lying here and had fallen and could be caught.
As day break came I heard, through the semi consciousness, voices. As I opened my eyes I saw the blurred faces of my four friends peering down at me. They talked amongst themselves then lifted me and carried me back to my parents, laid me on a mat and left me. My parents were horrified but never the less they took me back, cleaned me up and tended to my every need. As time went on it became obvious that I was unable to walk. The injury had been so severe that I was now paralysed from the waste down.
This just made things worse, all the remorse that I had not listen to my parents, the guilt that I was now more work for them. It went on and on in my head. What also made it worse was that my four so called friends never came to visit. For the first time in my life I was alone. I could go on and tell you more of how I felt but it would serve no purpose.
I lay there thinking is there any hope? Do I have to live with this situation and this guilt for ever?
Sunday, 21 February 2010
Mark 2 Session 6
After reading the account of Jesus in the house from the perspective of the owner I decided that maybe I should tell you my story, how I met Jesus and how he forgave my sins because of the persistent faith of my friends. They believed that Jesus could heal me, I can testify that he did more than just heal me he forgave me and restored my life.
The town was winding down for the night, people where in their houses, kids were being put to bed and the streets were emptying. As you can guess this is not Leeds in the 21st century. My story takes place in 1st century AD in a town called Capernaum.
This was where I grew up, in a loving home, with parents who only wanted the best for me. They were devout Jews, observing all the feasts and high days to a fault. As a youngster this was OK, I could deal with it, going to the synagogue as was our norm. As I began to move into teenage years this ritual became a little too much, after all why should I be made to go somewhere that had very little significance or effect on my life. There was so much more to do out on the streets with my friends, well that's what they called themselves at the time.
All this tension between myself and my parents started to affect my relationship with them. We began to argue and fall out and as a result I started to stay out later and later. My time was taken up with hanging around street corners, kicking a ball or chalking some graffiti on the walls. Yeah we were no different in those days. We had similar pressures and expectations as you kids today. In short we were bored.
In particular I had 4 friends and the five of us used to have a real good laugh. We would get up to all sorts of pranks each time becoming more daring in our endeavors.
Over time our lives just degenerated into nothing more than rebels, taking and using what we actually had no right to do. My parents were becoming more and more distressed until it reached the point that I decided it was best to move out. Well that is a real shock to any teenager, having to fend for themselves and I was no exception. I suddenly found that in order to live you needed money and that it was expected that one had to pay ones way in life.
My four friends were in similar situations and between us we decided that we could either get jobs, beg or resort to robbing houses. It all seemed quite ligite to us, after all life owed us a living, didn't it? The rich of our town had far more than they needed any way so what was wrong with fair distribution?
I suppose in hind sight and with the benefit of maturity on my side I realise that life owes us nothing and that God Almighty is more interested in me as a person than what I can get for myself at the expense of others.
Well over time we were becoming quite the 'cat burglars', up on roofs, able to dismantle a roof without sound, drop into the living space, take what we needed to sell on for survival then up, out and over the roof tops into the night with our booty.
It is quite exhilarating to be leaping from roof top to roof top, you have to be fairly shore footed though as one slip and you are down between the houses and almost certain damage. Little did I think that this would ever happen to me and change my life forever.
The town was winding down for the night, people where in their houses, kids were being put to bed and the streets were emptying. As you can guess this is not Leeds in the 21st century. My story takes place in 1st century AD in a town called Capernaum.
This was where I grew up, in a loving home, with parents who only wanted the best for me. They were devout Jews, observing all the feasts and high days to a fault. As a youngster this was OK, I could deal with it, going to the synagogue as was our norm. As I began to move into teenage years this ritual became a little too much, after all why should I be made to go somewhere that had very little significance or effect on my life. There was so much more to do out on the streets with my friends, well that's what they called themselves at the time.
All this tension between myself and my parents started to affect my relationship with them. We began to argue and fall out and as a result I started to stay out later and later. My time was taken up with hanging around street corners, kicking a ball or chalking some graffiti on the walls. Yeah we were no different in those days. We had similar pressures and expectations as you kids today. In short we were bored.
In particular I had 4 friends and the five of us used to have a real good laugh. We would get up to all sorts of pranks each time becoming more daring in our endeavors.
Over time our lives just degenerated into nothing more than rebels, taking and using what we actually had no right to do. My parents were becoming more and more distressed until it reached the point that I decided it was best to move out. Well that is a real shock to any teenager, having to fend for themselves and I was no exception. I suddenly found that in order to live you needed money and that it was expected that one had to pay ones way in life.
My four friends were in similar situations and between us we decided that we could either get jobs, beg or resort to robbing houses. It all seemed quite ligite to us, after all life owed us a living, didn't it? The rich of our town had far more than they needed any way so what was wrong with fair distribution?
I suppose in hind sight and with the benefit of maturity on my side I realise that life owes us nothing and that God Almighty is more interested in me as a person than what I can get for myself at the expense of others.
Well over time we were becoming quite the 'cat burglars', up on roofs, able to dismantle a roof without sound, drop into the living space, take what we needed to sell on for survival then up, out and over the roof tops into the night with our booty.
It is quite exhilarating to be leaping from roof top to roof top, you have to be fairly shore footed though as one slip and you are down between the houses and almost certain damage. Little did I think that this would ever happen to me and change my life forever.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Mark 2 Session 5
As the crowds of people dispersed from my house, leaving me with a hole in my roof, I was able to quiz Jesus a bit further regarding the miracle that had taken place under my roof, or should I say under the hole in my roof.
What I needed to know was why did he say "Your sins are forgiven you". It seemed to me that he was just being contentious knowing that it would cause some debate. Surely that is a challenge to far. The answer he gave was simple. "I" he said "came to call sinners to repentance, not to make people better, if people get better as a result of having their sins forgiven then so be it".
After Jesus had left the house I sat and thought about all that had happened that day in my house. I came to the conclusion that my life needed to change and that I, like the crippled man needed Jesus to forgive my sin. I did all I knew, I just talked to God as if he were in the room with me. It wasn't until a few years later when I next saw this same Jesus being dragged through a crowd on his way to Calvary that I knew the significance of my prayer.
It was a wonderful moment when I realised my "sin" had been forgiven. That is, that I did not have to continue to live a life that was condemned, as I had thought, because Jesus had come willingly from God to set me free to live a life dedicated to Him and free of quilt. It was not as if my life changed over night but my life took on a different perspective. I now had hope where before there had been despair. It was no longer governed by what I wanted but only what God wanted. Whilst I struggled at times to work out practically what that meant, I determined to continue to pursue this desire within me to follow this man Jesus and what his life meant.
My story ends here in the knowledge that "Jesus came from heaven to earth to show the way, He went from the earth to the cross my debt to pay, then from the cross to the grave and from the grave to the sky" and I say "Lord I lift your name on high". This encounter with this man changed my life forever.
What I pray is that all our lives will encounter this Jesus in such a way that our lives will be different.
What I needed to know was why did he say "Your sins are forgiven you". It seemed to me that he was just being contentious knowing that it would cause some debate. Surely that is a challenge to far. The answer he gave was simple. "I" he said "came to call sinners to repentance, not to make people better, if people get better as a result of having their sins forgiven then so be it".
After Jesus had left the house I sat and thought about all that had happened that day in my house. I came to the conclusion that my life needed to change and that I, like the crippled man needed Jesus to forgive my sin. I did all I knew, I just talked to God as if he were in the room with me. It wasn't until a few years later when I next saw this same Jesus being dragged through a crowd on his way to Calvary that I knew the significance of my prayer.
It was a wonderful moment when I realised my "sin" had been forgiven. That is, that I did not have to continue to live a life that was condemned, as I had thought, because Jesus had come willingly from God to set me free to live a life dedicated to Him and free of quilt. It was not as if my life changed over night but my life took on a different perspective. I now had hope where before there had been despair. It was no longer governed by what I wanted but only what God wanted. Whilst I struggled at times to work out practically what that meant, I determined to continue to pursue this desire within me to follow this man Jesus and what his life meant.
My story ends here in the knowledge that "Jesus came from heaven to earth to show the way, He went from the earth to the cross my debt to pay, then from the cross to the grave and from the grave to the sky" and I say "Lord I lift your name on high". This encounter with this man changed my life forever.
What I pray is that all our lives will encounter this Jesus in such a way that our lives will be different.
Friday, 5 February 2010
Mark 2 Session 4
These four men were unbelievable and audacious. I suppose when your desperate you will do anything. I later recalled some words that Jesus said, "Greater love has no man than this than a man lay down his life for his friends". This was certainly true in this case.
As we gazed upwards towards this hole, IN MY ROOF!!, we were no longer in control of the situation, or to be more precise I was no longer in control. I realised years later after following this Jesus teaching that this is the exact place that Almighty God requires us to be for him to take control of our situations.
As these four men swung the stretcher type of affair over the hole and began to lower the one laid on it down through the roof I could hear tut, tuts from those around me. It was interesting to be the by stander on this occasion and observe what Jesus would do next. In the immediate he didn't do anything, he just waited for the stretcher to alight on the floor in front of him, and in front of some very religious and powerful leaders of the local church. Well you could have cut the air with a knife. Not only had these four men broken with protocol, they had illegally dismantled my roof and now without a word were watching Jesus, as was everyone else.
I thought, do I intervene at this point after all it is my house. This was a vital lesson to me and one that I shall never forget, that is that it is always unwise to intervene into what God is doing in a person's life. After all that is what was happening here in my house God was dealing with a person's life. My house had now become Jesus house and he was in control not me.
"My Son", he said "your sins are forgiven you". Well you should have seen our faces, especially those more qualified in the Jewish laws and traditions than me. Although nothing was said we all knew we were inwardly thinking the same thing. "Who is this man who reckons he has the power to forgive a man his sin?"
Then without warning Jesus took the lid off and said "Is it easier to say your sins are forgiven you or take up your bed and walk?" Then to the man lying before us all he said "Take up your bed and go home"
To our amazement that is exactly what the man did, got up, took his bed and started to push his way through the people to the door. I took a quick glance upwards to the hole in my roof and smiled at the four faces still peering in, but only for a second because in that moment these men also knew that God was present and had done something significant and had forgiven a guilty man. They knew that this forgiveness was available to them as well. I never saw them again.
Jesus had set something going in my heart, I couldn't find it in myself to judge this man Jesus or condemn him for seemingly assuming power or authority from what I percieved was only available from God Himself. That is what I had been taught. I determined from that day onwards to never limit or doubt God again. Something I did not find easy at times but what I do know is that I committed my life to follow this man of God, my saviour and redeemer and He committed Himself to me and when I doubted He carried me through.
As we gazed upwards towards this hole, IN MY ROOF!!, we were no longer in control of the situation, or to be more precise I was no longer in control. I realised years later after following this Jesus teaching that this is the exact place that Almighty God requires us to be for him to take control of our situations.
As these four men swung the stretcher type of affair over the hole and began to lower the one laid on it down through the roof I could hear tut, tuts from those around me. It was interesting to be the by stander on this occasion and observe what Jesus would do next. In the immediate he didn't do anything, he just waited for the stretcher to alight on the floor in front of him, and in front of some very religious and powerful leaders of the local church. Well you could have cut the air with a knife. Not only had these four men broken with protocol, they had illegally dismantled my roof and now without a word were watching Jesus, as was everyone else.
I thought, do I intervene at this point after all it is my house. This was a vital lesson to me and one that I shall never forget, that is that it is always unwise to intervene into what God is doing in a person's life. After all that is what was happening here in my house God was dealing with a person's life. My house had now become Jesus house and he was in control not me.
"My Son", he said "your sins are forgiven you". Well you should have seen our faces, especially those more qualified in the Jewish laws and traditions than me. Although nothing was said we all knew we were inwardly thinking the same thing. "Who is this man who reckons he has the power to forgive a man his sin?"
Then without warning Jesus took the lid off and said "Is it easier to say your sins are forgiven you or take up your bed and walk?" Then to the man lying before us all he said "Take up your bed and go home"
To our amazement that is exactly what the man did, got up, took his bed and started to push his way through the people to the door. I took a quick glance upwards to the hole in my roof and smiled at the four faces still peering in, but only for a second because in that moment these men also knew that God was present and had done something significant and had forgiven a guilty man. They knew that this forgiveness was available to them as well. I never saw them again.
Jesus had set something going in my heart, I couldn't find it in myself to judge this man Jesus or condemn him for seemingly assuming power or authority from what I percieved was only available from God Himself. That is what I had been taught. I determined from that day onwards to never limit or doubt God again. Something I did not find easy at times but what I do know is that I committed my life to follow this man of God, my saviour and redeemer and He committed Himself to me and when I doubted He carried me through.
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Mark 2 Session 3
Well what happened next just blew me away. The word went out that Jesus was in the house, not just any house but my house. I didn't invite them but they all came. The scholars, the men, the women, the children. So much so that no one else could get in. I was getting quite worried that my home would be ransacked. After all this Jesus seemed to attract the 'no hoper's' in life, the down and outs, the opportunists.
Then I thought well I can't do anything now, Jesus is here, the house is full, just go with the flow and pick up the pieces later. I decided there and then that all that I had was of little importance compared to what this man was doing with his life and how it was affecting and changing other people's lives. He was reaching out and making a difference to anyone who was willing to come to him and ask him for his help. How he did it I do not know, he must be from another planet as none of us had seen anything like this before.
Well what happened next was audacious and beyond belief as I said they were vandalising my house. There I was standing right next to Jesus, who was delivering his message of repentance when the dust and dirt began to fall. We were surprised when we looked up and saw the beginnings of a hole in the roof. As we watched the hole get bigger, because that is all we could do, we saw these four faces peering in at us. they looked embarrassed, we looked bewildered and nobody said anything.
Then all eyes were on me, well it is my house, what am I going to do? The truth is I couldn't do anything, too many people you see, I couldn't go any where. So I just stood and watched like everyone else.
As the hole got bigger and bigger we eventually realised why the hole in the roof. These men were desperate, they had a friend who was paralysed and was on some kind of stretcher. I say a stretcher it was a Heath Robinson affair, just a flat piece of board with some temporary handles roped on to carry it. The stretcher had been put together in a hurry.
Then, as we all watched in amazement, those of us that could see what was going on anyway, the four men lowered this man down into the room right in front of Jesus. I remember thinking to myself "well these men really believe in miracles". You see whilst I had seen him heal someone, I still had doubts that he could do it again", after all he is only a man, or that is what I still thought, even though he was in my house at my invitation. I am sure I was not the only one thinking this, this Jesus surely can't keep healing people, it's not normal and not possible.
Just in that moment it all clicked, this man Jesus was the messiah, the Son of God, promised so long ago. The next question is what am I going to do with that piece of divine revelation that is now changing the whole course of my life?
Then I thought well I can't do anything now, Jesus is here, the house is full, just go with the flow and pick up the pieces later. I decided there and then that all that I had was of little importance compared to what this man was doing with his life and how it was affecting and changing other people's lives. He was reaching out and making a difference to anyone who was willing to come to him and ask him for his help. How he did it I do not know, he must be from another planet as none of us had seen anything like this before.
Well what happened next was audacious and beyond belief as I said they were vandalising my house. There I was standing right next to Jesus, who was delivering his message of repentance when the dust and dirt began to fall. We were surprised when we looked up and saw the beginnings of a hole in the roof. As we watched the hole get bigger, because that is all we could do, we saw these four faces peering in at us. they looked embarrassed, we looked bewildered and nobody said anything.
Then all eyes were on me, well it is my house, what am I going to do? The truth is I couldn't do anything, too many people you see, I couldn't go any where. So I just stood and watched like everyone else.
As the hole got bigger and bigger we eventually realised why the hole in the roof. These men were desperate, they had a friend who was paralysed and was on some kind of stretcher. I say a stretcher it was a Heath Robinson affair, just a flat piece of board with some temporary handles roped on to carry it. The stretcher had been put together in a hurry.
Then, as we all watched in amazement, those of us that could see what was going on anyway, the four men lowered this man down into the room right in front of Jesus. I remember thinking to myself "well these men really believe in miracles". You see whilst I had seen him heal someone, I still had doubts that he could do it again", after all he is only a man, or that is what I still thought, even though he was in my house at my invitation. I am sure I was not the only one thinking this, this Jesus surely can't keep healing people, it's not normal and not possible.
Just in that moment it all clicked, this man Jesus was the messiah, the Son of God, promised so long ago. The next question is what am I going to do with that piece of divine revelation that is now changing the whole course of my life?
Friday, 29 January 2010
Mark 2 Session 2
My house is being vandalised, or that is what it seems. There are four men on the roof with roof destruction tools. They seem to be so determined to get in I don't know what to do. I have a house full of guests well I call them guests, I invited a man called Jesus who I had met on the streets around where I live. He had been very forthright in his approach in talking about "The kingdom of God" and "Repentance". As a devout man I had been interested in what he had to say. Then one day I saw him heal someone, yes I mean heal, you know make them better. Apparently he had done this kind of thing before. Well you can image my surprise at something so radical. Anyway from that moment on I decided I needed to find out more about this guy.
In my search I found out that he was a carpenter's son from a back water called Nazareth. He apparently, at the age of 12 held some very deep meaning conversations with some very devout scholars and they had been amazed at what he had been telling them. It was as if he had been taught by some of the best scholars around yet he was only 12.
But he had something that was different and I wanted to know what made him tick.
The more I searched, the more interested I became in this man, who seemed to be more than just a man. I mean he can heal people.
I decided that I would try and get to know this man, something in me had come alive, I suppose you could call it 'a thirst for the truth', so I started to follow him around and observe his lifestyle when he was in town. You see, he was a bit of a nomad you were never sure where he was going to turn up next. Anyway just by chance I happened to be near him and I had the opportunity to invite him back to my house, don't ask me how it happened I don't know but there I was talking with him and asked if he would like to come back. This over whelming desire to know the truth about this man and his teachings were beginning to overtake me and, rightly or wrongly I was becoming consumed with a desire to know this Jesus and where he got his 'powers'. To my surprise he agreed. In hind sight I found out that if anyone asks they will receive and that he had said "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them". (John 14:23)
It was at that moment when he agreed to come to my house that I realised that this man was more than a man and that he just maybe the messiah that we had all been waiting for. I was so excited, this Jesus was coming to my home, at my invitation. I did not know what was going to happen next but my journey had begun.
In my search I found out that he was a carpenter's son from a back water called Nazareth. He apparently, at the age of 12 held some very deep meaning conversations with some very devout scholars and they had been amazed at what he had been telling them. It was as if he had been taught by some of the best scholars around yet he was only 12.
But he had something that was different and I wanted to know what made him tick.
The more I searched, the more interested I became in this man, who seemed to be more than just a man. I mean he can heal people.
I decided that I would try and get to know this man, something in me had come alive, I suppose you could call it 'a thirst for the truth', so I started to follow him around and observe his lifestyle when he was in town. You see, he was a bit of a nomad you were never sure where he was going to turn up next. Anyway just by chance I happened to be near him and I had the opportunity to invite him back to my house, don't ask me how it happened I don't know but there I was talking with him and asked if he would like to come back. This over whelming desire to know the truth about this man and his teachings were beginning to overtake me and, rightly or wrongly I was becoming consumed with a desire to know this Jesus and where he got his 'powers'. To my surprise he agreed. In hind sight I found out that if anyone asks they will receive and that he had said "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them". (John 14:23)
It was at that moment when he agreed to come to my house that I realised that this man was more than a man and that he just maybe the messiah that we had all been waiting for. I was so excited, this Jesus was coming to my home, at my invitation. I did not know what was going to happen next but my journey had begun.
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Mark 2 Session 1
It was noised that Jesus was in the house. What a great thing to hear that Jesus is in the house.
When people heard that Jesus was in the house" they crowded into hear what he had to say. We also know that there where certain people who just wanted to catch him out, trip him up and say "there I told you he was a fraud". I hope that we are not one of those people that try and catch Jesus out. Anyway what we read is that 4 people carrying a man who is crippled are so determined to get to Jesus that all protocol goes out of the window and they start to dismantle the house. WHAT!!! Imagine that happening to you or me. I am sure that our response would be to call the police. But in this instance we do not read that the owner did that.
What kind of a person is this that:-
Lord change us so that we become people that are gracious and giving, allowing you to use what we have so that your name is glorified.
When people heard that Jesus was in the house" they crowded into hear what he had to say. We also know that there where certain people who just wanted to catch him out, trip him up and say "there I told you he was a fraud". I hope that we are not one of those people that try and catch Jesus out. Anyway what we read is that 4 people carrying a man who is crippled are so determined to get to Jesus that all protocol goes out of the window and they start to dismantle the house. WHAT!!! Imagine that happening to you or me. I am sure that our response would be to call the police. But in this instance we do not read that the owner did that.
What kind of a person is this that:-
- Opens his house to Jesus
- Allows loads of people that he does not know into his space
- Just stands back and lets them dismantle his house
Lord change us so that we become people that are gracious and giving, allowing you to use what we have so that your name is glorified.
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Mark 1 Session 3
I am still contemplating Mark chapter 1. What I find fascinating is that John points to Jesus and when Jesus arrives in the wilderness to be baptised by John there is this kind of recognition between them both that seems to say this is it. This is the moment in history that the world has been waiting for. John preaches repentance and Mark records that when John was put in prison Jesus preaches repentance.
What I have also been thinking about is how that it appears that those who where demon possessed seemed to know that Jesus was the Son of God. I was thinking about this and challenged by the question do I know that Jesus is the Son of God? and if so what kind of a response does that require? I am still thinking about the response not the fact that Jesus is the Son of God!!
It was also fascinating to see how people followed Jesus when he called them. Why does it appear to be so easy, just to leave your boat, your nets and your father in the boat doing all the work (well I suppose that bits easy). To leave all that you know and follow someone who you hardly know? I was also thinking did James and John have their father's approval, if they did that throws up all kinds of questions and responses. Their father could have been gracious and just said "you go I believe that this man Jesus is who he says he is and therefore you need to be part of this" or he could have said "don't be so foolish and leave what will provide you with security for your families". What ever the father's response what we know is that the two impetuous men left all and followed Jesus. The language used implies that they never returned to fishing.
Today's blog seems to be more questions than answers. May God bless you as you contemplate these questions. I am still contemplating1!!
What I have also been thinking about is how that it appears that those who where demon possessed seemed to know that Jesus was the Son of God. I was thinking about this and challenged by the question do I know that Jesus is the Son of God? and if so what kind of a response does that require? I am still thinking about the response not the fact that Jesus is the Son of God!!
It was also fascinating to see how people followed Jesus when he called them. Why does it appear to be so easy, just to leave your boat, your nets and your father in the boat doing all the work (well I suppose that bits easy). To leave all that you know and follow someone who you hardly know? I was also thinking did James and John have their father's approval, if they did that throws up all kinds of questions and responses. Their father could have been gracious and just said "you go I believe that this man Jesus is who he says he is and therefore you need to be part of this" or he could have said "don't be so foolish and leave what will provide you with security for your families". What ever the father's response what we know is that the two impetuous men left all and followed Jesus. The language used implies that they never returned to fishing.
Today's blog seems to be more questions than answers. May God bless you as you contemplate these questions. I am still contemplating1!!
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Mark 1 Session 2
John's message of repentance was so radical that we read that many people came to him in the wilderness. I wonder why they came. Was it because they were curious about this strange, wild man clothed in camels hair who had a diet of wild honey and locusts, or was it because they were interested in catching him out on his theology, or was it that they were captured by his outragous message of the possibility that a life could be changed.It was not what he did that changed peoples lives but what he said. His message was Christ in you the hope of Glory.
God is not found in rituals but in relationship "and the one coming after me, He will guide you into all truth". He will baptise you in the Holy Spirit.
Matthew and Luke record a bit more about John, they quote him as saying to the priest's, that is the religious ones, "You brood of vipers, who has warned you?", and "Therefore bring forth fruits worthy of repentance". What John was saying was we have to live the life that shows we have embrassed the truth of repentance and that we understand the Grace and Mercy of God, through who's power we have been redeemed.
The great gospel that John was declaring was radical in it's approached because it claimed that there was a position in God where we could be set free from Sin, that is the Sin that endures to death and seperates us from a loving God.
Notice I talk about Sin and not sin's, sin's are the result of Sin. What God was about to do with Jesus, His Son was break the power of Sin and Death so that we could live a life of freedom from Sin and Death.
This very fact had been revealed to John by an act of the Holy Spirit, the medium that God uses to comunicate to those who are in tune with Him. John had embraced the truth of the gospel and was so enriched by the message that he preached and preached and preached repentance, the starting point of any move and work of God.
John never claimed to be the Christ but pointed to someone "who is greater than I". The lesson here is that all of us need to always point to Jesus, never to take the credit for ourselves.
Lord help us to embrace the truth of the good news of the gospel, the great news that we have been freed from the power of Sin and Death and help us to live in the freedom that your death and resurection has made possible.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Mark 1 Session 1
What we learnt from Jacob and how God changed him and led him all began with his willingness to accept that he needed to change, he didn't know how but he was willing to engage with almighty God. We, like Jacob, have to recognise that we need to change and that we need a saviour, someone who is able to travel with us through life's journey. Jacob allowed God to travel with him and learnt from Him, we can do the same.
Let's look at Mark's gospel and begin to discover who this person is that came to show us the way.
Mark introduces his story by focusing on John the Baptist.
He quotes from Malachi Chapter 3 v 1
"Behold, I am preparing the way before you, then the Lord, who you seek will suddenly come to His temple"
Paul reminds us in 1 Cor 6:19-20 that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own,
20 for you are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
"The Lord who YOU seek will suddenly come to His temple"
Mark is declaring that God is preparing a way before us. Are we seeking the Lord? If we are then He will suddenly come to His temple, that is into you and me.
John was the last prophet before the coming of the Christ, God's only begotten Son. He came declaring that the time had come to repent, to be washed, immersed, baptised as a sign that the coming Christ was able to set us free from sinful, human nature. This was God's ultimate sacrifice, He knew that it was not enough just to have the old sacrificial system which never dealt with the cause, just covered the sin. Here, in Christ was a new way, a way that all mankind could relate to and enter into, but it needed repentance.
This teaching was completely new, in one powerful declaration, John had radically challenged a way of life that had gone on for centuries. Sometimes it takes a fresh, radical look at ourselves, our lives and situations, in order for us to be changed.
Let us hold on tightly to the verse that Mark quotes from Malachi "The Lord who YOU seek will suddenly come to His temple" And may we say "Yes Lord Jesus come quickly". Inhabit this unholy temple and may it be a place where Your light shines in a dark and lost world.
Let's look at Mark's gospel and begin to discover who this person is that came to show us the way.
Mark introduces his story by focusing on John the Baptist.
He quotes from Malachi Chapter 3 v 1
"Behold, I am preparing the way before you, then the Lord, who you seek will suddenly come to His temple"
Paul reminds us in 1 Cor 6:19-20 that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own,
20 for you are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
"The Lord who YOU seek will suddenly come to His temple"
Mark is declaring that God is preparing a way before us. Are we seeking the Lord? If we are then He will suddenly come to His temple, that is into you and me.
John was the last prophet before the coming of the Christ, God's only begotten Son. He came declaring that the time had come to repent, to be washed, immersed, baptised as a sign that the coming Christ was able to set us free from sinful, human nature. This was God's ultimate sacrifice, He knew that it was not enough just to have the old sacrificial system which never dealt with the cause, just covered the sin. Here, in Christ was a new way, a way that all mankind could relate to and enter into, but it needed repentance.
This teaching was completely new, in one powerful declaration, John had radically challenged a way of life that had gone on for centuries. Sometimes it takes a fresh, radical look at ourselves, our lives and situations, in order for us to be changed.
Let us hold on tightly to the verse that Mark quotes from Malachi "The Lord who YOU seek will suddenly come to His temple" And may we say "Yes Lord Jesus come quickly". Inhabit this unholy temple and may it be a place where Your light shines in a dark and lost world.
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