Desperate People
August 15, 2002 • By Ed Wrather
Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.” - Mark 2:3-4.
In an oasis town near Cairo, police have arrested a man who was performing brain surgeries but only has a primary school education. The brain surgeon pretender did have a secondary school certificate that was forged, and he claimed to have studied brain surgery in Germany and Cairo. The 40-year-old fake surgeon was very busy seeing about 200 patients per week and charging $4.74 each. Apparently, the fake doctor had performed several brain surgeries however it is unknown whether the patients survived.
Why would anyone go to a fake brain surgeon? For one thing, there were many other people going to him for help. He did have a forged secondary school certificate. Maybe he was successful in a brain surgery or two, or maybe some of his associates spread the word that the fake doctor had done their surgeries. The most likely and sad reason for the success of the fake doctor is the desperation of the people. In the midst of their hopelessness, someone held out some hope, and they grabbed it like a drowning person grabs a life preserver.
Desperation was what was driving the four friends of a paralyzed man almost two thousand years ago. They had heard about this Jesus and thought that He was the only hope their friend had. It was desperation that cooked up the plan of ripping up the roof and then the lowering of their friend to the feet of Jesus. It was a foolish plan, but it was the only hope they had. The amazing thing about their desperation was that it had driven them to the One, who really was able to help their friend. Imagine their joy as their friend at the word of Jesus; stood up, picked up his bed, and walked out of the house! Amazing!
Have you ever had that much desperation? That much love for someone? Are you desperate enough for the souls of the lost people all around you to do something they may very well think is crazy? Do you love them enough to overcome all obstacles and take them to the only One who can help them? Jesus, unlike the fake doctor is truly able to help. That help is available, it is waiting, and it doesn’t even cost $4.74 because it is free. What are you waiting for?
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