David Bahn – Reflections

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I am using the YouVersion 49 Week Bible Challenge for these devotions. Today’s readings are Matthew 9; Hosea 6; Numbers 27; 2 Chronicles 35.

Matthew 9:1-13

And getting into a boat Jesus crossed over and came to his own city. ² And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” ³ And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” ⁴ But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? ⁵ For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? ⁶ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” ⁷ And he rose and went home. ⁸ When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

⁹ As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

¹⁰ And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. ¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹² But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Two Sundays ago I preached at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Spring, Texas. I used passages from Proverbs, Job, and John’s gospel which speak of friends. I also named some names: Jerry, Lloyd, Gary, and Jim, among others. I spoke of how each of these friends blessed me. They helped me see the truth about myself. They encouraged me to stay the course. They helped me see things more clearly. They refreshed my spirit. Friends are a great treasure. You might say, sometimes our friends carry us through difficult times.

That is certainly what is happening in this encounter with Jesus and the lame man. His friends carry him to Jesus. What a blessing he received from Jesus through their act of merciful service. They literally carried him to Jesus.

Sometimes we need to be carried to Jesus. A friend will pray for us in the time of our illness. A friend will sit with us in our time of grief. A friend will remind us of Jesus’ promises in the face of loss. A friend will turn us back to the paths of righteousness when we wander.

Sometimes we may need to carry others to Jesus. A friend may need a hug and an assurance that she isn’t alone. A friend may need a Bible verse to remind him of God’s love and grace. A friend may need a nudge back to God, or even a strong push toward repentance.

I have certainly been carried to Jesus by friends for whom I am deeply thankful. I have had the occasion to carry a friend to Jesus in an hour of trial.

But, honestly, sometimes we don’t want to do this. We don’t want to bring our friends to Jesus, allowing him to comfort, love, and forgive them. In the moments of anger and conflict we would rather our friends just shape up and fly right. We would rather not have to relate to them through the cross of Jesus. We would rather keep the log in our eye as we try to take the speck out of our friend’s eye.

Thankfully we have a friend in Jesus who laid down his life for us, who forgives sins (our biggest need), and who welcomes all those who come to him in brokenness and repentance.