I love me some hero stories, where a noble and self-sacrificing soul overcomes great dangers, snatching victory from the slathering jaws of defeat, and triumphantly wins the fair maiden. OK, I have caught my limit of “fair maiden”(one little Pie Baker), but I still love the danger and the triumph, and I love the Heroes.
I suppose it goes back to The Lone Ranger, which me and my buddies watched religiously every day after school. “Return with me now to those thrilling days of yesteryear...with a cloud of dust and a mighty ‘HiYo SIL-verrrr! Away!'" Never missed him riding by that one big rock that must have followed him all over the West, but then he never missed with those silver bullets and always whipped the Black Hats and sent them off to their Just Reward. Plus he had a great theme song: Brum didee brum didee brum didee brum BRUM... It took me awhile to figure out that most heroes don’t come with theme songs, but that’s a story for another day.
Of course, I’m not the only one who loves heroes. Even Jesus noticed them and honored them!
Heroes like those 4 who tore off a roof to get their paralyzed buddy to Jesus: “And seeing their faith...” He didn’t admire their inventiveness, their roofing skills, or their unity. He never even mentioned their wardrobe choices. He rejoiced to see their FAITH - faith that He could help, that He would help, and that there was no one else to turn to. His admiration for their surprise entrance is obvious and immediate, and a bit surprising.
Mark 2:5 Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
To be fair, their faith in Jesus had some reasons behind it. He had been healing the worst diseases in their world right and left, but His first response addressing the internal (and Eternal) problems of their friend was probably not what they were looking for. It certainly took everybody else off guard, but He didn’t stop there. He went on to meet the obvious need, the one they thought they were there for, but He began with the one He saw most clearly - the Spiritual Need of one who was guilty.
Only the Lord knows the names of ANY of these men. Like our modern heroes, they keep their anonymity. They weren’t there to be noticed or glorified, but they have absolutely been remembered. Just so you know, when you come to the Lord with your troubles, be they large or small, He sees what you really need most, and for most of us it’s exactly what that paralytic needed: acceptance and forgiveness.
The heroic faith of these four “roof-raisers” inspires me, because I see me in them, and I want to be a Jesus kind of hero. My job is also to bring people to Jesus as they are, and let Him work His miracles in their lives. My understanding of their real need may be faulty, but His never is. He always does all things well.
Mark 2:12 ...they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
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