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Reflections on Hope

Mark 2:1-12
March 1, 2003

Several years ago, our family had the opportunity to visit Volcano National Park on the big island of Hawaii. Having never been to the site of an active volcano before I was really blown away by what I saw. It seemed very different from any pictures I'd ever seen in a National Geographic magazine. I wasn't prepared for how barren and actually depressing the landscape would be.

As we drove down the paved road of the mountainside toward the ocean we could see for miles this desolate field of molten rock that had virtually covered over everything in its path. It was as if all hope of life and vitality had been snuffed out when the great mountain had erupted.

As we got out of our car and walked across the lava it was remarkable that anything could actually grow in that desolate place. But every now and then you would come across some hearty shrub breaking through those thick rocks or a little flower trying to peak out through a patch of earth or some insect that was still able to find food to stay alive. Small signs of hope, but signs nevertheless. I think hope is a lot like those occasional signs of life springing up in those lava fields.

In Mark's gospel story we see the persistent hope of one man and his supportive friends to find Jesus in spite of all the odds against them. This happened to be a man whose life and vitality had been snatched from him. This was a man who knew the desolation of being trapped in a body that couldn't move. We know precious little about this man, only that he was determined to find Jesus. Jesus must have represented to him some small sign of hope in the bleak landscape of his life.

I think it is fascinating that Jesus didn't initially focus on the physical need of this man but on his inner need. Here comes this guy on a stretcher through the roof of this crowded house where Jesus is teaching and immediately he recognizes this man's need to be forgiven.

It struck me as I meditated on this passage that the central truth of this story lies in the power and authority of Jesus to forgive. The "self appointed kingdom monitors" there at the scene didn't much like Jesus making such claims. But Jesus unflinchingly declares, "Son, I forgive your sins."

In the midst of the bleakest landscapes of our own lives, God offers to us in Christ the hope of forgiveness. This is the heart of the gospel---the good news--- "Your sins are forgiven!"

We might look at our life circumstances and wonder how anything good could spring up out of the desolation we sometimes feel. We may be carrying around guilt and shame from the past. We may regret things we have said or done or wished we'd said or done. We may feel guilty for the wounds we have inflicted on others, for decisions that can never be reversed. But Jesus reminds us, "My son, my daughter, your sins are forgiven."

I know that some of you are uncomfortable with sinner language. Let me tell you, I grew up on worm theology. I even remember some of the filthy rotten sinner preaching I heard. Usually all I can remember is the shame I felt. While I think it has been necessary for me to acknowledge my own darkness, to face my own capacity for evil, I now choose to live in the reality of God's love and grace and forgiveness. What freedom this is!

This is the gift Jesus offers this paralyzed man first and foremost--- Forgiveness. And he offers this gift to us today.

Another jewel in this great story is the marvelous grace and gift of friendship. You know when someone is frail and vulnerable because of an illness they loose their independence. They must learn to humbly accept help from those closest to them. This is never an easy position to be in. I personally think it is much easier to give help than it is to graciously receive it, don't you?

This paralyzed man had good friends willing to go the extra mile with him, willing to keep hoping with him when it probably would have been easier to turn around and go home. In fact, the hope of his friends initiated the healing encounter with Jesus. He couldn't have made it to the site where Jesus was without the help of his friends. God never intends for us to go through our suffering alone.

The man in the story left that day with his friends a new person, restored and whole again. His hope has been fulfilled through his encounter with Jesus.

James Bryan Smith writes these words his book, Embracing the Love of God.
"God has forgiven us because he wants to establish a relationship with us. Within that relationship we are enabled to grow, to be healed, and to become whole.
The pain that we have caused through our sin is sometimes staggering and shocking. For years we may have run from God, afraid of his judgment and certain punishment. Off in the distance God stands alone, with a heart broken because we fail to accept his forgiveness. He loves us with a furious passion. He forgives us even when we cannot forgive ourselves. Sometimes I can only sit and wonder at the thought of how much God loves us."

God can take the worst and most crippling devastation we have experienced in life whether it has been brought about by natural causes or caused by our own human failings and bring healing and forgiveness and wholeness. God offers the hope for new life to sprout up out of the barren lava beds of our lives. Our ultimate hope always rests in the compassionate loving nature of God. May our hearts be encouraged by these words. Amen.