(This is one possible, (but likely) account of the story of the paralytic in Mark 2:1-12)
It was a hot day in Capernaum, and people from miles around had gathered to hear Jesus. The crowd was very large, stretching out the door and filling the court yard to the house. Only those who had come early were inside. A young man named Timon had heard about Jesus and came an hour before the crowd gathered to get a good seat. As the people flooded into the room, Timon secured his place on the dirt floor right up front. He could hardly believe he was about to hear from Jesus, the man of miracles. As the meeting began, He was stirred deeply by the words and presence of Jesus. He could feel the warmth of God’s love penetrating deep into his heart. Timon thought, I never want to leave this place, I just want to sit at the feet of Jesus forever.
Suddenly, he began to weep, and a great burden came over his heart. How can I be so sad in the presence of Jesus? he thought. What is this burden on my heart? Then a face flashed into his mind. It was the paralytic that was always begging at the temple. As he pictured his suffering, his heart broke within him. He was sobbing uncontrollably now, and a great wailing began to rise up from the depths of his spirit. ‘I have to get out of here, my heart is breaking. As he stood up to leave he looked at Jesus. There was a tear in His eye and a knowing look that said, Thank you, for bearing My burden. This stirred, another wave of deep emotion that almost sent him to the floor. He collected himself, and pushed his way through the crowd, sobbing as he went. Once outside, he ran straight to the temple to find the paralytic.
The man, paralyzed from birth was there in his usual place. His three friends, who often carried him around, were with him. Timon ran up, still weeping. You must come with me to see Jesus! he cried out to the paralytic. He loves you and wants to heal you, you must come with me! His words rising up from a place so deep in his heart that no one could deny their truth. The paralytic agreed and the friends all joined in to carry him.
By the time they arrived at the house, the crowd was larger than before. They pushed and shouted at the edge of the throng, but there was no room for people to even make a path to Jesus. Timon dropped to his knees with a heavy heart, and his countenance fell as he realized they could not get through. He looked at the paralytic apologetically, then the face of Jesus flashed into his mind. He saw again the tear in His eye and felt the longing of His heart to touch this man. The desire of God burst forth into Timon’s heart and he fell to the ground wailing. After a few minutes, he stood up with a fresh determination. Looking around, he found a way to the top of the house. Follow me! he shouted, grasping one end of the pallet.
Up the outside stairs of the house next door and across the roof they struggled with the paralytic and his pallet. Timon found the spot just above Jesus, and began to tear back the tiles, until the hole was large enough. Then the four of them handed the paralytic down to the people below so that he was just in front of Jesus. The Lord looked up at the men on the roof, knowing that it was their faith that made possible what He was about to do. He stood up and moved toward the man on the floor. Everyone in the room could feel His compassion as he spoke, My son, your sins are forgiven. I say to you, ‘arise, take up your pallet and walk.’ As those words entered into the paralytic’s ears, God’s power entered his body, and he stood up, gathered his pallet, and walked out. Timon, still watching from the roof, fell back on the tiles, full of peace and relief, thanking God for allowing him to be a part of this miracle.
Process of Intercession - As you read through this story one more time, consider these points in the intercession process:
1- Timon was in the presence of the Lord when his heart was touched for the paralytic.
2- He received the burden as his own, and allowed his heart to be deeply moved by the Lord’s concern.
3- He committed himself to carry the burden and took action.
4- He gathered others who were concerned to join with him.
5- When he met with obstacles, like the crowd, he remembered the heart of Jesus and allowed the Holy Spirit to strengthen and encourage him.
6- He persevered through the struggles and brought the paralytic to the feet of Jesus.
7- He rejoiced and rested in the victory of Christ with humility and gratitude.
This is the portrait of a true intercessor. If we draw near to Christ, carry His burdens, and persevere, we too can rejoice in His victory.
Wayne Dillard
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Wayne,
God used this passage of Scripture some 16 years ago in a 12-minute sermonette at a state evanelism conference by Rev. Ray Ivey entitled, “Are You a Cot Bearer?” to reveal to me that He was planning to use me to encourage pastors that He would randomly bring into my life. I argued that I was not worthy or capable of doing that since I was not a pastor and didn’t know their needs, etc…didn’t work :-)!
Since that time He has constantly brought His servants into my life, some for one-time encounters, others for life-long relationship and He has never once failed to provide every word, every answer to prayers for discernment, or anything else that may have been needed to build up these men!!!
At the time I didn’t fully understand why, but He also gave me a “name” for my ministry, “Four Corners Outreach” (you’ll understand this in a moment), and for many years I envisioned a retreat center for pastors in crisis (and still do, but now on God’s timetable), even to the point of drawing up plans for a small rustic cabin that I could position in the woods on my 22 acres of land which God had blessed my family with. I also often tried to connect these wounded warriors with four men who would pray for them, thinking that as in this story, those men could carry this pastor to the feet of Jesus for healing. What I failed to realize though was that so many of these men had been tremendously hurt by the very ones they felt called to serve that the last thing they were going to do was open themselves up to any one person, much less four other people.
Even as I have continued to minister to these men that God would bring into my life, I have continued to struggle with how I was going to develop this ministry into what I thought God was wanting it to be. However, a few weeks ago God gave me the opportunity to sit down with a young man who was an associate pastor of a church plant barely 2 years old who was struggling with the specifics of his call and desperate for direction.
As I sat down with him one evening and began watching God minister to this young man, God “whispered” in my ear, “Warren, this has been my plan all along…all I have ever asked of you was to be willing to be available to pick up just one corner of the cot upon which I wished to lay my servant on, then I would be faithful, along with my Son, and the Holy Spirit, to pick up the other three corners and together WE would bring this servant to a place of healing!” As I reflected throughout the evening on that encounter with God, I realized that HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN FAITHFUL TO GRAB HIS CORNER! WOW!!!! What a revelation!! Oh yeah, want to guess where this young man served the Lord? Four Corners Church!!! What an awesome God we serve!!!
Thanks for reminding me that within all of us there is a Timon, and when we get out of the way and allow ourselves to become the hands and feet of Jesus, great and mighty things will happen within His kingdom for which HE will be glorified!!! My question to anyone who may read this post…Are You willing to be a Cot-bearer for Jesus? It makes for some truly awesome companionship!!!!!
Together in His Service,
Warren Moore <
Romans 8:37
this is powerful and I have taken it to heart - thank you and God bless you
God convicted me the beginning of this year to pray for others and today started to feeling a bit sad for my self, i made my way to see this God inspired words that Wayne obediently wrote out for God’s children.
I am affirming it is our role to be intercessors for those that God brings to mind to us.
Thank you God for your love and mercy and patience with each of us.
I thank you for Wayne whom now is in your glory, that he was here on earth to carry out your works of love. May all who read this be blessed as I have been today!
Wayne, Your word always carries the anointing of The Holy Spirit, and it is what I need for the moment. Thank you and God Bless.