Five Simple Steps to Experience a Life of Freedom
Confession time: I don’t like to be trapped. Both my sweet Pastor husband and my son like to pin me down or corner me in a small space. It freaks me out, and my response amuses them to no end. My husband will even grip my wrist and hold it, just waiting for me to flail and fight for my freedom. They aren’t ever trying to hurt me; I just provide too much entertainment.
Feeling trapped fills us with a myriad of negative emotions that range from frustration to anxiety to fear to discouragement to helplessness. We want to know we are free; we want to believe we are in control.
Jesus and the Paralytic
Mark 2:1-12 tells the story of a man trapped in a paralyzed body. It’s a familiar Bible story and when we read it, we tend to focus on the faithful friends who put their heads together and concocted a way to deliver their friend to Jesus. They believed Jesus could heal their friend, would heal their friend, and they were determined to make it happen.
Recently, when I read the story, I was drawn to the paralytic man himself. I was experiencing limitations of my own and was feeling distinctly trapped. As I imagined the story, I realized this paralyzed man could go nowhere on his own. He didn’t have an electric wheelchair, or easy access to a helpful online community. He didn’t have a career or possibly even a job. It was probable there was nothing in his life to cause him to feel successful or purposeful; he couldn’t do what others did. I wondered if he often felt worthless, left out, and left behind.
His friends obviously cared deeply for him. Jesus had come to town and was speaking in a home. People packed the house; even religious big wigs were in attendance as Jesus spoke the Word. The friends couldn’t shove their way in, so they did the next best thing. They tore a hole in the roof and lowered their friend down directly in front of Jesus.
When you are desperate, you get creative, think outside the box and do the unthinkable. All for the experience of freedom.
Nancy brewer
Jesus Gives Freedom from Sin
The story takes an interesting turn. Jesus is impressed with the friends and their faith. Christ looks at the paralytic and says, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5) The friends and the paralyzed man were hoping for freedom to move! Jesus, in his omniscience, gave him freedom from the real issue that held him captive. The Son of Man gifted the paralytic freedom to experience abundant life regardless of his ability to walk.
The plot twists again. Jesus picks up negative vibes from the religious aristocracy.
“But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts: ‘Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ Right away Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves…”
Mark 2:6-8 CSB
Jesus then physically heals the paralytic explaining he is proving “that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:10).
The Freedom We Need Most
I’ve wondered if Jesus would’ve still healed the man’s paralysis if the scribes in attendance hadn’t been so unbelieving. If Jesus hadn’t physically healed the paralyzed man, many of us would feel the paralytic had been gypped. Some might have wondered what Jesus was thinking. It makes me curious: do we truly understand the freedom Jesus offers? Do we grasp the truth that Jesus gave his best gift first?
We all feel trapped at various points in our lives. Perhaps we feel caught by physical circumstances much like the paralytic. We could feel cornered by emotions, feeling we are worthless, less than, or useless. There are moments and seasons we are limited by time, resources, opportunity, or skill. I’ve recognized I’m often entangled in my own expectations (actual or perceived) as I struggle with the reality that life isn’t happening as I imagined, or I feel obligated to behave in a specific way.
This simple story teaches us that Jesus wants to heal us, providing us freedom. Christ knows the kind of freedom each of us needs most. Three questions push to the forefront of my mind. What kind of freedom do I want? Do I believe Jesus knows what will free me from what truly keeps me trapped? Am I willing to accept the freedom Christ offers me?
Believe Jesus will Provide What We Need
We need to trust just like the paralyzed man and his faithful friends did. They believed Jesus could do what was necessary to give the paralytic freedom. They placed their faith and hope in Christ; they chose to trust Him completely. Jesus graciously gave what the paralyzed man needed to experience joy and peace in his life.
The paralytic and his friends came asking for freedom of movement, Jesus provided freedom from sins and the freedom to live an abundant life. You could come to Jesus asking for freedom from religious legalism, He would offer you freedom to enjoy relationship with Him. If we asked for freedom from responsibility, Jesus would offer the freedom to experience intimacy with Him as we seek to be obedient to His call. As I’ve asked God to free me from expectations, He has offered me the freedom to experience the wonder of who He is as I’ve gone about my to-do list.
God is Our Source
Paul knew that God was the provider of all we truly need. In his letter to the Romans, he reminds them God is to be their provider, their source.
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NLT
Five Steps to Experience Freedom
Paul wanted his friends to enjoy a life of freedom in Christ. I long for that life, and I believe you do too my friend. The story of the paralytic and his faithful friends teaches us 5 steps to experience freedom.
- Come to Jesus with the whole mess. We want to hold on to control at times; we want Jesus to give us freedom and we still want our way. The paralyzed man and his friends didn’t come with a list of expectations. They came and placed their need in front of Christ.
- Come even when life is crowded. It would have been easy for the friends to give up when they realized how difficult it would be to get to Jesus. Too often, we make excuses and are unwilling to do the work to gain freedom. Life is too busy, we have family responsibilities, we figure we just need to make the best of things, we don’t want to come across as needy or demanding to Jesus. Drop the excuses. Come to Jesus.
- Put Jesus front and center. Seek Christ and Christ alone; don’t look to the crowd. If the paralyzed man had looked to the scribes or others in the home listening to Jesus, he would not have received forgiveness nor the ability to walk. Only Jesus can give us the freedom we need.
- Ask. Listen. Accept. Scripture doesn’t say that the paralyzed man complained about receiving forgiveness. He evidently accepted willingly what Jesus graciously gave. We need to do the same. Jesus wants to hear from us, so ask what you long to be free from, then listen to the wisdom and truth He willingly offers. It may not be pleasant; it may not be what you want to hear — and we need to accept what He gives.
- Step out believing you’ve been given what you need. Jesus didn’t do surgery on the paralytic, He didn’t rub a magic ointment on his body, nor does scripture say Jesus touched the man at all! Christ commanded the paralytic “Get up, take your mat, and go home.” (Mark 2:11) The paralyzed man had a moment of ultimate faith; he acted on what he believed Jesus had done. We need to do the same. Don’t wonder “Am I really free?” Believe Jesus has the power to heal and live in Jesus’ power to free you. Follow the instructions Christ provides in complete obedience.
Jesus has Freedom for You
Jesus has come to town, and you have an opportunity to meet with Him. I’m convinced you won’t have to tear a hole in anyone’s roof. He wants to give you the freedom you need most. Christ the Lord is gracious and kind and all sorts of powerful. He can work a miracle in your life. What kind of freedom do you want? Do you believe Jesus knows what will free you from what truly keeps you trapped? Are you willing to accept the freedom Christ offers?
I’m praying for you.
Man at Waterfall Photo by Svyatoslav Romanov on Unsplash
