Being a Broken Disciple.

Have you ever felt unworthy or unable in your walk with God? Perhaps a better question would be what should I do when I feel cripple or broken as a follower of Jesus? One of my favourite stories in the Bible is in Mark 2:2-12. 

“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 paralysed 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 paralysed 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 paralysed 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 2:2-12

This story has many layers of truth, but I want to hone in on the three types of people we see here. 

CRIPPLE
Broken Sinner

CROWD
Consumer

CARRIER
Disciple

THE CRIPPLE 

The enemy uses the same old methods to keep you paralysed from your future. He uses shame and comparison to keep you in a vicious cycle of feeling unworthy and unable. He doesn't care what keeps you on the mat, he just wants to keep you paralysed.

But Jesus destroyed these lies with ONE sentence… He says you are forgiven and healthy. 

THE CROWD

The story in Mark closes by saying the crowd of onlookers were amazed. Anyone can be amazed but it is only the vulnerable, broken, cripple that gets changed. Jesus died to create disciples not to collect crowds.

Christianity is not a spectator sport.

THE CARRIER 

In all situations, we must know God is still the God of miracles. Without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God. In moments of shame and comparison make your prayer: Father silence the lies in me, the cynic.

Like the man with the withered hand in Luke, we are to bring our brokenness to God. Jesus doesn't look for perfection, he looks for vulnerable and honest people. We are all broken disciples that must be willing to be naked and unashamed before a loving God.

When the moments of inability and unworthiness arise look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Mark Varughese