“Count on it: In community with Jesus and with those who love you, most of what happened to [the paralyzed] man will happen with you. Sin will get named and dealt with. And although this sounds frightening, it may be the best gift of all.”- John Ortberg
“When [Jesus] saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.”- Luke 5:20 (NIV)
John Ortberg continues on in Chapter 3 of Everybody’s Normal . . . as he asks you to take a moment to imagine that you are the man on the mat. Your friends get ready to lower you through the roof. This represents the greatest risk you’ve ever taken. You wonder if you can trust Jesus. Therefore, do you question whether or not Jesus can truly help you?
Hence, Pastor Ortberg adds:
“You lie there on your mat, thinking about all these dangers. You have a decision to make. If you go through the roof, you could get dropped, you could get ridiculed, you could get rejected. On the other hand, if you don’t go through the roof, it’s certain you will never be healed. This is your one shot a wholeness.
The man nods his head. He decides to roll the dice. He becomes a roof-crasher, too. And nothing will ever be the same.”
Most significantly, the paralyzed man’s friends ask nothing for themselves. Instead, they desire to get their friend close to Jesus. Above all, John observes, something that great friends want to do for each other. Because they possess and get on an irrational commitment to the well-being of the paralyzed man.
In conclusion, Pastor Ortberg underscores:
“Jesus sees a little of what God intended when he made human beings. He sees a little island of shalom in a sea of brokenness. . . . sees people who love even in the face of a giant ‘as -is’ tag. He sees their faith.”
Today’s question: What most helps you live in community with Jesus? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: ‘The Fellowship of the Mat”