Devotion - Thursday, January 15

Mark 2 contains a story that intrigues me.  It is the story of the paralytic man who is carried to Jesus by his friends.  When they can't get into the house to see Jesus, they go up on the roof, remove the ceiling tiles, and lower the man on his bed in front of Jesus.

The text says that when Jesus "saw their faith," he forgives the man's sins.  It isn't just the faith of the man that is referred to here - it is also the faith of those who bring him to the place where Jesus can see him.

I wrote yesterday about seeing.  Here is another instance.  "Come and see" ought to be the mantra of the Jesus community.

Seeing comes again, at the end of the story.  The people are amazed, they are impressed, they are moved to belief.  The concluding phrase of verse 12 reads, "We never saw anything like this!"

It is an amazing thing to see.  It is a sight worthy of sharing.  It is a vision full of wonder.

To watch as God's children welcome one another and laugh together and reveal the joy which is ours.