Psalm 19, 46, 50
I wonder how long the guy had been a paraplegic. He had some good friends. Did it take four of them to carry him because they were all so full of enthusiasm for the potential healing that the whole gang took him or because he had been lying down so long that he had got fatter and needed four people to carry him? Who looked after him, who was at home waiting for him to return- a wife, a mother?
There was no social security system so he would not have to go and register as no longer disabled. If his source of income was beggar then he had lost that. He would have to get a job. I wonder if he had a craft that he could resume, if his old customers would return to him or if they had found another supplier.
No doubt there was enthusiasm and joy at the release from the prison of his own legs. Dancing, running, leaping those were activities he would not have experienced recently. The pleasure of not being dependent on others for transportation, even to another part of the house - to the little room at the back. Jesus really changed his life.
It all started when Jesus said "Son, your sins are forgiven". He had done this because of the faith of those providing the legs, the friends who had brought the man to Jesus.
It is still the same. We might not be physically paralyzed but we can be so spiritually. In a rut and embarrassed about returning to our healer but our friends have the faith. Or let's have the faith for our friends.
Thanks again for the photograph Nome. I had a nice little ending about being able to get on a tram and was going to use the picture of the Google trip Planner being available in Brussels but then I discovered the photograph had a copyright. That little plug will have to return until I get home and take my own photograph.
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