In all the times I’ve read through the Gospels, I somehow missed this scene.  It’s a short passage in Mark, but it really shows how things were for Jesus.

He asked the disciples to get a boat for him.  The crowd was so thick and pressing they were afraid he would be trampled.  Those kinds of crowds are scary, but being the object of the crowd’s attention would up the intensity level.

To add to the confusion of the people, demons were falling down before Jesus.  They were screaming out and calling him “Son of God”.

Can you imagine what the disciples were feeling?

Bible reference: Mark 3:7-13

photo credit: Stevie-B

I love this scene in the Temple.  Jesus is there, teaching on the Sabbath.  There’s also a man with a crippled hand there.

The religious leaders must have seen Jesus looking at the crippled man.  They were whispering about him healing on the Sabbath again.

So Jesus, instead of letting them continue to whisper, brings the man to stand in front of everyone.  And he puts them on the spot with the question, “What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Good or Evil? Helping or leaving helpless.”

The silence and anticipation in that moment was awesome.

Jesus tells the man to stretch out his hand and the hand was restored.

What the Pharisees were whispering about, Jesus did so that everyone could see and understand.  He came to bring help and healing and He wasn’t about to be stopped.

Bible reference: Matthew 12:1-14, Mark 2:23 – 3:6, Luke 6:1-11

photo credit: striatic

So far, on our journey with John we’ve seen Jesus heal people, free people from demons, forgive people of sins.

He is the elixir for all that ails us.

He’s the balm for our wounded hearts.

He’s the salve for all that itches and irritates us.

He’s the relief for suffering.

He’s the antidote for the poison.

He’s the panacea, bringing changed life, inside and out.

He’s the Remedy.

photo credit: darkpatator

Bible reference: Matthew 9:10-17, Mark 2:15-22, Luke 5:29-39

What do you think about a man literally going through the roof to get to Jesus, only to have Jesus at first “ignore” his paralysis and treat a different problem instead?

I think it’s safe to assume that this man had heard about all the healing Jesus had been doing and wanted some of that healing for his body too.

Have you ever had it happen to you?  You pour your heart out to God with your problem, only to have him address a different issue?

Tell me what you think.  What’s your story?

Bible Reference: Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26

photo credit: hoyasmeg

The leper could have called out to Jesus from a distance.  In fact, he should have because lepers weren’t to go near other people.

But he came close.  He fell on his knees at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus could have healed him with his words.  He spoke the world into creation, to speak healing would have been an easy thing for him.

But he touched.  He reached out and touched all that was ugly, sick and broken – and made the man whole and well.

Sometimes I need to come close.  To come near Jesus with all my ugly, sinful, broken self and let him touch me.  What about you?

Bible Reference: Matthew 8:2-4, Mark 1:40-45, Luke 5:12-16