As we have been preparing for Easter this week with our traditional little yellow “Holy Week” cards lined up above the fireplace, (I always wish we could do it better than we are doing it, but we are trying at least!), we read this somewhere (talking about Christ’s miracles):
“On the day you read about the paralyzed person being carried to Jesus, think about and then write a thank you letter to someone who has carried you to Christ.”
It made me think of this quote from Tattoos On The Heart (one of my favorite books ever that I talked about back HERE. In fact, I think about this quote quite a lot):
“Compassion isn’t just about feeling the pain of others; it’s about bringing them in toward yourself. If we love what God loves, then, in compassion, margins get erased. ‘Be compassionate as God is compassionate,’ means the dismantling of barriers that exclude.
“In Scripture, Jesus is in a house so packed that no one can come through the door anymore. So the people open the roof and lower this paralytic down through it, so Jesus can heal him. The focus of the story is, understandably, the healing of the paralytic. But there is something more significant than that happening here. They’re ripping the roof off the place, and those outside are being let in.”
I love that Easter brings so much into beautiful focus.
That we can think of Christ with no boundaries with His love. And strive to be like him.
I know I’m late but a few have asked for my sister’s “Four Weeks to Celebrate Easter” document. She said I could share it but to let people know it’s not polished yet. But I love it because it just shares so many great ideas to celebrate this season. It is HERE if you want to check it out.
I think my favorite part of that story is found in Luke 5:20. It wasn’t the man’s faith but “their faith” The ones that lifted, supported, held, and helped their friend. Their responsibility was bringing him to Jesus. They couldn’t fix him but could bring him to Jesus. Sometimes I feel like I’m the friend that would mention ‘hey Jesus is in town maybe He can help you’ or maybe I bring my friend to the yard and stop at the problem of getting him into Jesus. I know I need to be their helping all the way, and am sure trying hard to be that kind of friend. Also, LOVE that artwork! Always love how painters can bring us into the scene!
This was a focus in a Bible study I recently did on Jesus – the faith of his friends. We talked about how important it is to “carry” our friends to Jesus in prayer.
Love these thoughts so much. Thank you so much for sharing. I can count so many times when I have been “carried” to Jesus, I hope I can help carry those around me there as well.
xoxo