“We have never seen anything like this.” How many times have you heard that? We’re living in unprecedented times, to be sure, but are we on our own? Whenever faced with uncertainty, doesn’t it feel like we hear people taking one of two stances?
Either we believe that our hope and confidence are in a sovereign God who always has and will always have a plan for our good and His Glory, or we can believe that, in one way or another, faith in God is simply a crutch to lean on when we aren’t strong enough to face what is right in front of us.
Key Takeaway
As believers, we have doubts and can feel unsettled when we don't understand what is going on, but through the power of Christ, we take those thoughts captive and win the battlefield of the mind. We believe that God will keep us and lead us when chaos swirls. We trust that God will empower us to be His people in this very moment in which we live.
"We've never seen anything like this before." Mark 2:12
Some in our culture and society refer to Christianity, or religion in general, as a crutch.
Read Mark 2:1-12. It feels like a simple story of healing, something Jesus would do frequently, but there are three not-so-obvious points.
1.Our faith can move the heart of God on behalf of another person and impact their eternal destiny.
- The paralytic's friends weren't taking no for an answer when they tried to get to Jesus, and it was too crowded. They went up the side of the house to the roof, ripped the roof apart, and lowered their friend.
- Jesus looks up at them in approval of their faith. Because of their faith, Jesus healed their friend.
- We are called to move into action on behalf of other people.
- Inaction is the work of the enemy.
2.The paralytic's problem was bigger than he thought.
- Everyone thought that he needed to walk, but Jesus said that his sins were forgiven. Not being able to walk is a problem, but it wasn't an eternal problem.
- Our problem is that we need to be reconnected with our Maker, have access to His grace and mercy and have a relationship with Him. We need His Presence in our daily lives.
- He has a bigger purpose. Whatever our current "problem" is, it's going to pass, but your heart situation will still be the same, so you need to be connected with the Creator of your heart.
3.Jesus didn't hand the man a crutch after he healed him.
- Jesus asks the teachers of the Law questions because He was demonstrating the Authority that that He has. He can both forgive sins and heal.
- This was all done in plain sight. Nothing was hidden.
- Jesus is not a crutch for weak people. We are in a much worse state. We don't need a temporary help. Spiritually, we are dead. A crutch doesn't help dead people.
- We need a miracle. Jesus did that in His death and resurrection. Jesus heals our hearts, brings us back to life spiritually, and connects us forever with our Creator in His story of victory. This is what God offers us! Not something to help us when we are weak, but a miracle to raise the dead and bring us back to brand new life so that when others see us, they say, "I've never seen anything like this before".
As believers, we have doubts and can feel unsettled when we don't understand what is going on, but through the power of Christ, we take those thoughts captive and win the battlefield of the mind. We believe that God will keep us and lead us when chaos swirls. We trust that God will empower us to be His people in this very moment in which we live.
The Church is poised to love, care, reach out, minister, help, and support anyone at any time. The Church has always done that.
Discussion Questions
- Why do so many people feel free to say Christianity or religion in general is a crutch?
- Read Mark 2:1-12. What is the astounding thing that Jesus says in verse 5?
- Do you have friends who won't take no for an answer (in a good way) on your behalf when you are in need? Are you that type of friend? Does your faith hold up others?
- Louie said that inaction is the work of the enemy. In what ways is Jesus calling you to action to live your faith out in plain sight?
- It was a huge problem that the man was not able to walk, but what was his bigger problem?
- Depending on whether or not you have placed your faith in Jesus, what is your biggest problem? Why does salvation matter when people have true needs?
- See Mark 2:6-11, why did Jesus ask the teachers of the Law questions? What was He proving?
- What did Louie mean by "a crutch doesn't save dead people"?
- Dead people need a miracle. How did Jesus accomplish this? What do we receive when we place our faith in Jesus? What can that cause others to think?
- We still have our doubts and feel unsettled about certain things, but how do we gain victory over those thoughts and feelings?
Scripture References
