He's not Heavy, He's my Brother

Last Sunday Raju mentioned this story in his message. Specifically, he said that the reason Jesus said "Your sins are forgiven" because that is the best thing he could do for the man. The man had no gainful employment, could not walk and could not even get to a point where he could If that is the case with a lame beggar, how do we feel that somehow other things are more important? I am gainfully employed by society, so that's a major need that he had that I don't. I can walk. Another thing he needed. Even when I'm not working, I have God given abilities which allow me to give back more than that lame beggar could. But really, we share the largest need of all, the need for forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not something we always care to admit as a need. Almost anything is better than asking for forgiveness. I find it much easier to say "I’m sorry" than to actually ask "Will you forgive me?" I think it's because sorrow can be an expression of sympathy or empathy, while a request for forgiveness is an admission of guilt. Like the athlete, saying he's sorry that he's hurt people. Sorry they were hurt? Sorry that they misunderstood you? If yes, your not admitting guilt. Sorry is easy to say. Begging forgiveness allows the healing to begin.

Reading the story again this week, (strange coincidence, not necessarily a habit) I noticed something a little different. It was the beggar’s friends who were the motivating factor. I seriously doubt he could have convinced unbelieving friends to carry him to Christ. Verse 20 specifically says "their faith." That's a plural. I can't go so far as to say this man's friends got his sins forgiven, but it certainly seems that the community he surrounded himself with held his faith together.

Do I somehow think I' different in this regard? If I'm not surrounded by my community, supporting me, loving me, holding together all the pieces that fly off at random times, I'm pretty much worthless. When I have only my own worries, I focus on them, stew on them, and they eat me up. When I have a community around me, I realize that my problems are insignificant compared to everyone else's. Also, Christ keeps kicking me to meet someone else’s need. Somehow, whenever I obey Him, my needs get met as well. Sometimes a kick in the pants, sometimes an encouraging word. Always, God works through His people. They truly are His representatives on earth.