Don’t Let Life Make A Cripple Out Of You

The majority of young folks today are unfamiliar with a scourge that devastated many families in the 1940’s and early 1950’s. Being born before the 1950’s, I can remember the fear most parents had of the dread disease “infantile paralysis” Polio. As soon as the vaccine came out in the mid-1950s we kids were given the vaccine.

 

When our Lord walked the earth as a flesh and blood man, paralysis was considered a permanent, hopeless condition. There was one group of men however who believed Jesus could help their paralyzed friend. While Jesus was teaching in the village of Capernaum, four of these men carried their friend to Him. Not being able to get to Jesus because of the large crowd that surrounded Him, “they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on” (Mark 2:1-4). Mark tells us that “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’ ” (v. 5). He followed that up by saying “Get up, take your mat and go home” (v. 11). How glorious and remarkable it was that in response to those four men’s faith that not only did Jesus forgive his sins, He healed his incurable condition!

 

God’s Word makes it clear that Jesus is the same today as He was at that time and He will always be accessible and more that willing to intercede and act upon our behalf. We only need to ask in faith and believe in His promise to do so. Were you aware that when someone we know is facing serious physical difficulty or a spiritual crisis, it is our privilege to join together in prayer, bringing our friends to Jesus. He is the only One who can truly meet their deepest needs.