“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Mark 2:17 NKJV).
While the Lord Jesus Christ was lodging in Peter’s house at Capernaum, four men carried their friend who was a paralytic and brought him to Jesus to heal him.
But, when they could not reach where Jesus was because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof of the place where Jesus was and gently let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
The Lord Jesus responded promptly to their faith, which was working through love, by healing the paralytic, saying to him, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:11-12 NKJV).
The Lord Jesus is waiting for us today to carry our paralytics to Him!
Who are the paralytics?
In a physical sense, a paralytic is suffering from paralysis. Paralysis refers to the loss or impairment of the ability to move (and sometimes to feel anything) in part or most of the body, typically as a result of illness, poison, or injury.
Spiritually speaking, the paralytics are those without God’s Spirit and life in them!
Every sinner is a paralytic in God’s sight!
Frankly speaking, we all were born as spiritual paralytics. We all were born alienated from the life of God (Eph. 4:18); with our spirits completely dead in sins and trespasses and thus unable to fellowship with God and to discern and receive the things of the Spirit (Eph. 2:1, 1 Cor. 2:14); and without the spiritual capacity or ability to please God, obey His commandments, or walk in His perfect will (Rom. 8:7-8).
Simply put, we all were born totally spiritually and morally bankrupt, wretched, and helpless!
What is the cause of spiritual paralysis?
Sin!
Sin is the cause of spiritual paralysis. The first man Adam was the first paralytic, the first man to die spiritually (to be alienated from the life of God) due to his disobedience to God’s commandment (Gen. 2:16-17, Rom. 6:23).
All mankind inherited spiritual deadness or paralysis from Adam!
Paul states, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Rom. 5:12 NKJV).
Being crippled by sin from the womb, we were born without the divine ability to practice righteousness.
Paul writes, “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.” (Rom. 6:20 NKJV).
Many people today who spiritual paralytics, without God’s life and Spirit in them, are physically strong and actively involved in many religious or church activities.
It is quite possible to be zealous for God and yet void of God’s life and Spirit!
Before his dramatic conversion, Apostle Paul, although a spiritual paralytic, yet he was zealous for God. Being void of God’s life and thus without spiritual understanding, he went everywhere persecuting the saints of God in the name of God (Acts 9:1-8).
Similarly, many religious and zealous folks today are spiritual paralytics; void of divine life, but full of zeal and vain religious activities.
The Lord Jesus came into the world to revive and save spiritual paralytics. Jesus didn’t come for those who are spiritually whole, but for those who are spiritually sick.
Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Mark 2:17 NKJV).
Jesus Christ died for all spiritual paralytics!
Paul testifies, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Rom. 5:6 NKJV).
It was when we were without any spiritual strength, understanding, or ability to know God, fellowship intimately with God, and do God’s will that Jesus Christ died for us, the ungodly.
The born-again believers who have been made whole by the Lord Jesus are not expected to despise, ignore or condemn those who are still paralyzed by sins. Rather, the Lord expects us to help them by carrying them to Him.
Sadly, many believers today are waiting for the spiritual paralytics around them to rise up and go to Jesus by themselves.
How can we carry or bring the spiritual paralytics to Jesus?
First, by carrying or bringing the spiritual paralytics to Jesus in our daily prayers:
The spiritual paralytics are slaves or captives of the devil (John 8:34, Rom. 6:16, 1 John 3:8). Their minds have been blinded by the devil lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ should shine on them.
Paul said, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (2 Cor. 4:3-4 NKJV).
Therefore, it will take you wielding your spiritual authority in Christ to bind the devil and loose his captives for the spiritual paralytics around you to understand, believe and receive the gospel of Christ.
So, spend time daily to pray for the salvation and deliverance of the spiritual paralytics you know. It will take determination and discipline to do this daily!
Second, by personally preaching and explaining the gospel of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to spiritual paralytics:
The spiritual paralytics cannot be saved unless they put their faith in the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, speak to them personally about Jesus Christ and His finished work of redemption for their salvation. Your personal testimony to the goodness of the Lord is also very powerful.
Paul queries, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14 NKJV).
Third, the spiritual paralytics don’t need your condemnation; for they are under condemnation already:
Every sinner is presently under condemnation!
John writes, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18 NKJV).
He also testifies, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36 NKJV).
Therefore, spiritual paralytics don’t need your condemnation.
What then do they need?
Your love!
Your kindness!
Your persuasion!
The spiritual paralytics need you to persuade them to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, not just by your words but also by your good works. They need you to demonstrate to them the divine, pure, selfless and sacrificial love of God.
John the Beloved admonishes, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18 NKJV).
Beloved, is there anyone in your family or among your friends who is still a spiritual paralytic?
Don’t condemn or abandon him/her under the oppressive yoke and bondage of the devil to perish in his/her sins. Rather, have compassion on him and carry him to the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ today.
Jesus Christ is waiting to receive, heal and save the spiritual paralytics.
Carry the spiritual paralytics to Jesus Christ, the Saviour, today!
Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to heal me of my spiritual paralysis. My Dear Holy Spirit, help and teach me to lead, carry and bring other spiritual paralytics to Jesus for salvation, in Jesus’ name. Amen.