Intercession

Last week we shared the story of blind Bartimaeus and how Jesus healed his blindness with just a few words.  "Go, for your faith has healed you!" Jesus said.  This week we will look at the act of intercession ... when we pray or act on behalf of another person, even when that person has no power or awareness of our action.  And, yes, I said action.

Some of you think of prayer as passive, powerless and merely a duty.  The Bible calls it powerful, and Jesus said it was the only way to cast out some of the demonic forces He faced.  And prayer is powerful, when we pray in Jesus' name and in God's will.  But our story this week is all about the very active intercession of some friends that want healing and wholeness for another friend.

The setting is Mark 2 and a crowded room and a Bible study.  Yep, Jesus was "preaching God's word to them (v:2)."  It is interesting that the Son of God, the Living Word, is giving the people the life-giving truth of God's word.  In the room were all sorts of people.  There were teachers of religious law.  There were people who wanted to see "The Jesus Show."  But, for sure, the room was filled with sinners needing the salvation of God.

Four men, bringing their paralyzed friend to be healed by Jesus, carry him to the house on a mat.  The place is so crowded they can't get in.  And, unsaid but true in the story, it doesn't seem anyone is willing to let the four men through to bring their friend to the Healer.  So, the men do something that, if they did it today, would bring the police and lots of anger. They cut a hole in the roof and lowered the man down through the hole.  Mark reports, "seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man man, 'My child, your sins are forgiven (v:5).'"

This is unexpected by all.  The four men are probably disappointed.  They might have said, "We're about to get arrested for property damage, and our buddy didn't even get healed."  The Scripture reports the accusations of the religious teachers when they say "This is blasphemy!  Only God can forgive sins! (v:7)."  So Jesus cuts to the point and (with rhetorical intent) says, "Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or ' Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk (v:8-9).'"  Then, making His point clearly that He has "all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18)," Jesus says, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home (v:11)."  The man, without a single word in this story, does just that.

As I read and reread this story, it brings (at least to me) several points.

1) when you are with God, opposition is close by, 

2) crowds do not mean there is unity of purpose, 

3) the word of God is always worthy of preaching/teaching, 

4) maybe the physical healing (here in this crowded room) is the easiest thing Jesus does, 

5) people (especially religious people) resist forgiveness (even when it is done under God's authority) and 

6) intercession is a powerful part of what we (the Church) does in the world.

When I think of intercession I think of two groups.  One is our people at Abbeville Methodist who meet on Tuesday morning.  They pray for those on the prayer list, for the faith community in our town and for their pastor.  I am honored and thankful to be on that prayer list.  I also remember a story of an ex-KGB friend who shared how he, and many others, were lost in the bonds of communism, dictatorial rule, and oppressive darkness.  My friend said the only thing that sustained the faith during that dark period was "the prayers of the grandmothers."  I, when I recount that story longer than I can tell here, think of Russia, still facing evil and dictatorial rule, can still be brought back to faith by Jesus who has "all authority in heaven and on earth."  Maybe the Russian people are so bound up and paralyzed they are "like sheep without a shepherd."  Maybe the demons of leaders can only be brought to ground by prayer.  So ... let's cut a hole in the roof.  Let's lower down the faithful who are paralyzed by fear and oppression.  Let's pray for forgiveness, wholeness and healing.  "For those who live in the land of deep darkness, a light will shine (Isaiah 9:2)." "Lord, heal their land, and our land!"  AMEN