Matthew 9:1-7, Mark 2: 1-2, Luke5: 17-26

The month of February often bombards us with thoughts, slogans, and philosophies on what love is. The messages we receive are frequently a far cry from the Biblical definition of love. From a Biblical viewpoint, there are many passages on love; what are your favorite verses? I would find it difficult to narrow the list to even a top 10!

For the next few weeks, I would like us to consider Biblical love as demonstrated in the story of the paralyzed man whose friends brought him to Jesus for healing. I realize this is not the first passage that springs to mind, but we can glean some important truths from the account. I invite you not to rush through the reading of the scripture passages. Purposefully slow down and read the account as if this is your first exposure to the story.

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. (Mark 2:1-3 NIV)

Mark tells us that Jesus entered the town of Capernaum again. Jesus had returned home. Because this was His home, Jesus would have been well-known. The men featured in the story were aware of  Jesus. They may have heard Him teach before. One or more may have even met Jesus. But these men also knew a man who was paralyzed. Scripture does not tell us what their relationship to the paralyzed man was. I confess that I learned they were his friends in Sunday School as a child. However, the scripture doesn’t specifically note how they knew the man, only that the four men carried the paralyzed man to Jesus.

Love is observant. When we love, we pay attention to the details. We notice what the person we love likes and dislikes. We notice when they have a terrible day. We see the kinds of things that make our loved ones smile. If there is an unmet need, we take note. When we love another person, we are observant.

In all three scripture passages ( Matthew 9:1-7, Mark 2:1-2, and Luke 5:17-26), the four men observed a need in the paralyzed man’s life. I can almost hear your protest. “Carla, anybody could have seen that if he had been paralyzed!” I agree. But they didn’t just see his paralysis.

The four men did not avert their eyes. The four men did not just cluck their tongues and say, “Wow, that is rough” while passing by. The four men observed him and the toll that paralysis was taking on his life. They observed not only his disability but the effect of that disability on the man and his family. In other words, their godly love for the man helped them to see him as a person.

In your life, is there anyone who you have glanced at without seeing the person they are? What would we observe if we viewed that person through the lens of love? Is there a wound in their life that causes them to strike out in anger? Is there a battle with chronic pain that colors the way they interact with others? Is there loneliness that breaks their heart? Is there a fear that colors the way they view the world? Love is observant. When we love others with the love of the LORD, we see beyond the surface; we observe the need they have for Jesus.

Serving alongside yu,

Carla