Voices of Advent: 4 Famous Encounters With JesusSample

Let's call him The Man Who Slipped Through the Roof.   

Perhaps imagine he was like Samson, but not when Samson was strong. Think of him as Samson when he was chained to the millstone, turning that big round object to grind grain. His chains were resentment and anger. 

Legs and arms: useless. Bed-ridden and paralyzed. Unable to move his body. The only thing he could move was his mind, and he pushed thoughts round and round. Worried. Angry.

Maybe you’ve heard the psalm that goes, “Do not fret, it only leads to evil.”?  Until he met Jesus,  the life of The Man Who Slipped Through the Roof was one long and tiring fret. We don't know if he was born into the world as a paralytic, or if he had a tragic accident that zapped his life of its strength and ability to move. Imagine for a moment what life was like for the paralytic in Luke 5 before the advent of Jesus in his life. 

He likely lived on the other side of hope. In despair and regret that told him every day there is no reason to get out of bed, except he wasn't able to stand up and walk, even if he wanted to.

Now imagine the moment his friends, desperate to get him in front of Jesus, cut a hole in the roof and lowered his helpless body through it. Plopped him right in front of Jesus. Can you imagine the look on Jesus' face?  

Was it a surprise?  Perhaps it was a profound respect for the friends' boldness!

Perhaps the strangest thing that day was what Jesus said for everyone to hear:  “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Before he reached out a hand to heal, Jesus told the paralytic he was a sinner with a sickness that went so much deeper than his body. A man with a problem worse than failed limbs.

We know the rest of the story. The Man Who Slipped Through the Roof walked out of there with his mat in his hands, his whole future ahead of him, restored and set free.

The religious people were scandalized, but those with eyes to see saw the glory of God revealed. 

It’s kind of a perfect Christmas story, isn’t it?

Suddenly, after all those dark days of despair, Jesus is present with humanity.  Emmanuel, God among us. Setting us free from our hopelessness and the paralysis of sin.

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that with a single word, you set us free from our sin and despair into what only can be described as true joy. Thank you for your advent into my life. I welcome your love and healing power into my life today!