Believing the Impossible
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Mark 2:1-12
Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “You get what you deserve.”
It’s not true. You actually get what you expect.
Jesus was clear about this and, in one particular instance, He underscored this in a big way.
In the second chapter of Mark, we read about four faith-filled friends who had a huge expectation. They thought that if they could get their sick buddy to Jesus, He could make something impossible possible.
Their expectation rose so high that they carried their friend to the house where Jesus was teaching. Yet they realized they’d gotten there too late. The crowd was so thick they couldn’t get through.
Undaunted, they climbed up to the top of the house, dug through the roof, and lowered their friend down to Jesus. Their expectation led to action and resulted in a miracle.
Expectation led to action and resulted in a miracle.
Mark it well: their expectation didn’t cause a miracle. That’s God’s job. And only He can decide if one is to happen. However, their faith-filled action provided a context where the Lord chose to do the impossible.
Living in that context is all too rare. Many of us have surrendered to the status quo. And, according to author Ray Johnston, it’s a tragedy. He writes…
“I believe the most depressing, debilitating acronym ever is TWNC: Things Will Never Change. This toxic thought process has the power to destroy your marriage, friendships, and career.
Things Will Never Change replaces confidence with cynicism.
Things Will Never Change replaces high hopes with depression and despair.
Things Will Never Change blinds people to the possibility that God might have better days ahead.
These four words, Things Will Never Change, are so powerful that they can handcuff the hands of God. Jesus didn’t do any miracles in His hometown of Nazareth. Why? The Bible says, “because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58)
Could it be there are “impossibilities” in your life that are one expectant action away from becoming possible? That there are miracles just waiting upon a faith-filled prayer to be offered?
To be sure, you might not see such things. In God’s wisdom, He might withhold what we so long for. But maybe, just maybe, we need to at least dig a hole in the roof to see what He might want to do.
Could it be there are “impossibilities” in your life that are one expectant action away from becoming possible? Maybe, just maybe, we need to at least dig a hole in the roof to see what God might do.
PRAYER
Lord, I confess that all too often, rather than leaning into your words, “Everything is possible for him who believes” (Mark 9:23), I surrender to “Things Will Never Change.” Help me to be more courageous to dream big dreams and pray big prayers. For you can still make the impossible possible.
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