“We’ve never seen anything like that!” These words were spoken about Jesus when He
healed the paraplegic man brought to Him on a stretcher.
Eugene H Peterson tells the story so well in his book the “Message.” Look with me at Luke 5:17-28 where we find men on their way to Jesus with a friend that can not walk. Jesus spoke directly to the paraplegic, “Get up. Take your bedroll and go home.” Without a moment’s hesitation, he did so- got up, took his blanket, and left for home, giving glory to God all the way. The people rubbed their eyes, incredulously- and then also gave glory to God. Awestruck, they said, “We’ve never seen anything like that.”
Now, me, I think the story gets better in the next paragraph so let’s read along with Eugene as Jesus comes up on a business man setting at his desk. After this He went out and saw a man named Levi at his work collecting taxes. Jesus said,” Come along with me.” And he did- walked away from everything and went with Him.
Can you believe that? Levi just walked away from everything and followed Jesus. Today we do not see this happening much but let me encourage you to pray with us as we pray for more men and women to just up and walk away with Jesus to the regions beyond. You know what? When you do that, you to will hear the same words spoken today. “We’ve never seen anything like that.”
Jack Housley, fishing for men for the regions beyond.