Parable

Four Best Friends

September 30, 2020 — Leave a comment

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’

Mark 2:1-5

These four men, dug a hole on the roof, to interrupt Jesus so that their friend might be healed. Can you imagine the scene? The place is crowded, overflowing to the brim, (very not covid-19 friendly). This paralyzed dude and his friends do the most insane to drop dead center into the party. People who were waiting patiently outside might have been annoyed. People who waited for hours and did get a front row seat might think it’s unfair. Jesus saw this as faith. The man wasn’t going to wait. He saw the opportunity to be healed and be seen by God and he jumped even if it meant acting a fool or making others around him mad. People might have judged him for cutting corners but he was desperate. His life was already at such a low that what was getting a little lower. His faith — his throwing himself into the deep — gave him a new life, one that was upright and moving.

And let’s not forget the four men who did the work on behalf of their friend. One, they stuck by their paralyzed friend. Do you have people who stick by you when you think you are useless? Do you have people who stand by you even if it could ruin their reputation? Two, they did work so that their friend could get healed. Do you have people who toil with you so that you can reap the benefits? Do you have friends that care for your well-being just as much as they care for their own? Finally, they were part of this healing story. Do you have friends who are part of your healing journey? Have you invited people into your pain, your desires, your wins and your future? It doesn’t have to be a gang of people: four friends is plenty. Four friends can lift you up and lower you down gently. Four friends can hold you accountable and make sure you are not forgotten.

CBG: Offering

May 29, 2020 — Leave a comment

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”

Mark 6:30-38

The disciples are exhausted. They were supposed to go rest; Jesus had encouraged them to go rest. But the people and the needs followed. And so un-rested, they continued to serve. The people came and Jesus gathered them, gave them his attention, his time, his presence. The disciples noticed and knew that these people would be hungry. They were thinking ahead and suggested that the people be encouraged to go get food. It made sense. This was a plan for everyone. But Jesus throws on them another task?! They’ve already served and gave up their rest! And now Jesus expects the disciples to also somehow find enough food to feed the thousands?! They’re tired. They’re spent. Jesus, give ’em a break!!

I would have said something sarcastic, too.

Jesus, oh Jesus, doesn’t meet our sarcasm with sarcasm. He simply asks, what do you have? What can we offer? What can you offer?

You’re tired. You’re exhausted. You’ve done good. You should rest. You’ve looked at needs and still kept giving. You are tired. You are exhausted. You can’t handle another impossible thing to do, to see, to have to help with. When you’re in that exhaustion, it makes sense to see the problem as too big, too impossible. It probably is. It probably will require too much that you don’t have. Say the sarcastic thing. Make a deprecating joke. Roll your eyes. Take a breath.

What do you have? You have something! It may seem small, but you’d be surprised if you step in with faith and courage. Your offering may seem minuscule compared to the obstacle in front of you. But, the step of offering even that, of focusing on what you do have, will show you the miracle that can happen.

Prayer: God I pray that you help me focus on what I can give and what I do have rather than just looking at the challenge and mountain ahead. God I pray that you help me take small steps to change, to act, to help. The faith of a mustard seed can move mountains. I trust that.

Character: Where have I focused on the mountain instead of my ability to walk up the mountain?

Grace: Where has God showed you his abundance in the midst of our lack?