Saturday, February 8, 2025  

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As we continue to share devotions written by Dr. John Buchanan during his time as Pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church, today we reflect on a meditation from January 2001.

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Today's Scripture
Mark 2:1–12

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”--he said to the paralytic--“I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (NRSV)

“There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”

There’s wideness in God’s mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in God’s justice,
Which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth’s sorrows
Are more felt than up in heaven;
There is no place where earth’s failings
Have such kindly judgment given.

(Hymn text written by Frederick William Faber, 1854; alt.)

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Reflection

Four men carry their paralyzed friend to see Jesus. When they can’t get close enough because of the crowd, they carry him to the roof and lower him to the feet of Jesus. Jesus “saw their faith,” Mark says. That is, Jesus calls this wonderful gesture of friendship “faith.”

Part of what a church is for is to provide access to the life-giving power of friendship. Part of why we worship corporately is that together we can affirm and trust and believe and give our hearts away in ways that any one of us on any given Sunday may not be able to.

Friendship heals. It is the greatest privilege to be able to carry one another into the presence of Christ. It is the most amazing grace, when we can’t make it alone, to be lifted up, held up, carried into Gods presence by strong arms and loving hands and faithful prayers.

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Prayer
Thank you, dear God, for the gift of friendship. Thank you for friends who care about me and who hold me up when I start to fall and whose prayers carry me into your presence when I can’t make it on my own. Give me the grace to be a friend to others. And thank you for your love, your friendship, extended in Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Written by John M. Buchanan, Pastor Emeritus
January 17, 2001

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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