I have the most adorable nephew who is my best little buddy. Facebook reminded me recently that two years ago we got into a rhythm of storytelling. It would always start with “One day…” then he would say something that had to do with fishies, sharks, dinos or construction vehicles and then pass it over to me with “…the end, your turn.” Then I would take my turn and pass it back to him, “…the end, your turn!” We would pass it back and forth with the most ridiculous stories. 

There is something magical that happens when stories are told. Something other worldly. And when we start talking about the Bible and the stories Jesus told, we delve into a story that is bigger than life itself. God’s story is the umbrella over all of our stories, and we not only get an invitation to enter, but we get to accept it. 

I love the stories Jesus told. The insights into how to treat others. How to love. How to eat with others. How to champion those who struggle. How to pray. How to right the wrongs around us. How to worship. How to serve. We find all of it in the stories Jesus told. 

Luke 5:17-26 is one of those stories about Jesus that I love, because we get a peek into how many people tried to be around him, the desperation to be close to him and his response to that desperation.

One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and religion teachers were sitting around. They had come from nearly every village in Galilee and Judea, even as far away as Jerusalem, to be there. The healing power of God was on him.

Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher. They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus. When they couldn’t find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus. Impressed by their bold belief, he said, “Friend, I forgive your sins.”

That set the religion scholars and Pharisees buzzing. “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemous talk! God and only God can forgive sins.”

Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking and said, “Why all this gossipy whispering? Which is simpler: to say ‘I forgive your sins,’ or to say ‘Get up and start walking’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both.” He now spoke directly to the paraplegic: “Get up. Take your bedroll and go home.” Without a moment’s hesitation, he did it—got up, took his blanket, and left for home, giving glory to God all the way. The people rubbed their eyes, stunned—and then also gave glory to God. Awestruck, they said, “We’ve never seen anything like that!” [Luke 5:17-26 MSG]

A lot of time we see people refer to the men as ‘friends’ in this passage, but I think it is interesting that the Bible never tells us how the men knew each other. Who would go through all that trouble for a stranger if they were not friends? But if for a moment we let ourselves think they were all strangers trying to help another stranger, it brings a different perspective on how we help others in their weakness and distress and desperation and, in this situation, paralysis. 

It was probably more common that people ignored a paralyzed man in Bible times. Being sick or paralyzed in Biblical times meant you had sinned against God and that was your punishment. Even then humans were flipping theology to serve their purposes in oppressing people. When Jesus says, “Friend, I forgive your sins,” he is making right what had been wronged in the man. His physical ailment would no longer represent sin to everyone who looked at him. 

However, defiant to the culture, these men noticed the paralyzed man. What about that man moved them to action? Was it really a friend or relative? What about Jesus moved them to action? What had they heard about Jesus?

These men thought there was hope for the paralyzed man, if only they could get him in front of Jesus. These men did the heavy lifting, and when they couldn’t get him in front of Jesus through a door or window, said to each other, “What about the roof?”

Can you imagine that conversation? How do we get him up there? What do we need to get through the roof? Did you bring tools? Then think about the perspective of the paralyzed man in all that. Laying flat on a mat, being carried horizontally and then vertically to get on a roof. Did they secure him on the mat? So many possibilities in a passage where I’ve got a lot of questions.

But are we seeing the right thing? Do we get the real purpose of this story?

Jesus points to the faith of the men who did all that as his motivation to forgive the paralyzed man’s sin.

How has your faith saved another?

Matt Maher has a song I heard for the first time last week, and it brought me back to this passage. ‘In The Room’ has this as the bridge:

Tear off the roof, lower me down
Whatever it takes to get me to You

There were many moments during cancer treatments that I felt a disconnect from God, because of how sick I felt. During a bout of cancer insomnia in February 2023, God showed me a parallel to this story in Luke, and it was my friends who were supporting me as the men that lowered the paralyzed men. The numerous things they all did for me could never accurately be counted. The prayers whispered and shouted. The cards received. The car drivers. The day-time hanger-outers. The food bringers. The overnighters. The monetary givers. So many times, I felt hopeless. So many times, I felt the pain wouldn’t be worth it. And it was the faith of those around me that got me through that damn roof when I couldn’t find God in the bottom of a puke bag. 

There is a desperation when sickness takes hold of you, and I see frantic desperation in these men as they fought to get the paralyzed man in front of Jesus.

And when they do…it was all worth it, and we cannot miss the end of the story:

Without a moment’s hesitation, he did it—got up, took his blanket, and left for home, giving glory to God all the way. The people rubbed their eyes, stunned—and then also gave glory to God. Awestruck, they said, “We’ve never seen anything like that!”

Glory to God…from the healed man and every person who saw the miracle.

When was the last time you thanked God?

Honestly, I am so thankful for those that lived to tell this story and helped it find its’ place in the Bible. Can you imagine that the healed man probably started every conversation for the rest of his life with, “I used to be paralyzed, but then…Jesus.” After 20 years, he probably got some eye rolls, “Here he goes again.” But when God does something insane in your life, you should never stop pointing back to God and giving him glory. If the people who witnessed the healing had chosen to not retell this story of Jesus and what they saw, would we even know the story?

Part of our purpose is to be storytellers. You may not have the crazy, extravagant healing story, but it isn’t just about the crazy, extravagant stories. The story of your every day, walking around life is a story to be told. All stories hold great Kingdom value. You never know what God will do for someone else in your story of ‘normal.’

What are the stories we tell that draw others into the Kingdom of God and create a desire to participate?

There is never an end to the overarching story of God, because all our stories fit into God’s story…but now it is YOUR turn to tell your stories of where God is in your life and what he is doing through his Spirit in you. 

As my nephew used to say, “…the end, your turn.”