In reading the Gospels, I have previously commented upon Jesus’ response to those around him. For example, think of his response to the woman at the well in John 4. In such a small town, all everyone would have known of her marital state, or lack thereof. Yet, Jesus thinks it was important enough to speak with her that he took the detour through Samaria.

Think also of Jesus’ calling of Levi. Jesus chose Levi (Matthew) to be one of his disciples (Mark 2:14) despite the fact that Levi participated in the oppression of the Jews through the tax system.

Genesis 1:26 tells us that God created man in his own image. I see God’s image as the source of our concept of personhood, our need for community, our ability to love and our ability to make choices. Certainly there are other aspects to this, but these come to mind.

Perhaps Jesus’ response to these and others was due to his ability to recognize a small spark of the image of God in the people around him no matter how buried it was through suffering, abuse and poor choices. Perhaps when he looked at them, he did not see them as they are but as they could be. Jesus, being God, was in a position to restore the image that was damaged by life.

This then begs a few questions. If Jesus could see that spark in the people around him and begin the process of restoration. Why do some of us (many of us?) view ourselves as stuck in our own story of difficulty and poor choices? We may claim Philippians 1:6 as a promise but not live as though we believe it applies to us.

Or, why do some of us fail to see the people around us as Jesus sees them? We can walk through the crowds and look down on the homeless person begging for a few coins. Worse yet, we can be glad that people of questionable reputation do not feel comfortable darkening the door of our church.

Maybe seeing others as the image of God is part of how we can fulfill the command in Philippians 3:3 to regard the needs of others before meeting our own needs. Perhaps with this view, we won’t view anyone as beyond the ability to be redeemed. Perhaps we will be able to get out of our comfort zone and do something significant in someone’s life.

Maybe, just maybe, if we could see people the way that Jesus sees them, the church might be the first place people look to find solace in a crisis. Too often, it is the last place people look in fear of finding nothing but judgment.

The paralyzed man had no trouble understanding that he needed healing. Without the ability to walk, he could not earn a living or live a normal life. As a paralytic, his only means of supporting himself was as a beggar.

The text of Luke 5:18-25 does not indicate if the paralyzed man initiated the movement toward Jesus or if one of his friends came up with the idea. But, having heard of a healer named Jesus, four of his friends carried the man to Jesus so that he could be cured of his affliction.

The curious thing about this familiar Sunday School story is that when the man comes before Jesus for healing, Jesus does not directly address his paralysis. Jesus speaks to the man about his sin. What the man thought he needed was not his ultimate need. He wanted physical healing but Jesus addressed a deeper need, that for reconciliation with God.

Perhaps this gives us a clue as to why some of our prayers are not answered in the way would like. What I think I need may not be what God knows I really need. Jesus speaks to the desire of God to give us what we need when he says:

“Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9–11, ESV)

As Jesus reveals to us the character of God, we can know that when we ask for a snake but need a fish, the fish is what we get. Like the paralytic man, God will deal with us at our ultimate point of need.

One of the disturbing trends in the American church is the practice of speaking to the “felt needs” of those who come to the church. This is done to draw in those who otherwise would not think of attending church. The disturbing part is that in some, the preaching does not go beyond addressing those felt needs.

The story of the paralytic reminds us of the danger of ministering only to the perceived needs of people. The greater concern than a healthy marriage is a right relationship with God. There is nothing inherently wrong with a sermon series on raising healthy children but we do not need well adjusted children who do not understand that they are sinners in need of regeneration.

Paul told the Corinthians that his only goal was to present Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). Without the Cross, there is no forgiveness of sin. Without the preaching of the Cross, we will not meet the ultimate need of the people who come to our church.

The best news is that God is concerned about all our needs. Jesus did heal the man of his paralysis. God uses our “felt needs” to bring us to the point where he can address our deepest need.

I am reminded of something that I’ve heard Ravi Zacharias say on multiple occasions:

Jesus did not come to make bad people good,
He came to make dead people live.