Hear The Words Of Life And Believe Them

by Eric Elkin

“And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”

— Matthew 9:2

Friday Night Lights is a book that follows the 1988 Permian High School football team in Odessa, Texas. Film director Peter Berg turned the book into a movie and a television series. The television series, which ran from 2006 - 2011, received critical praise from critics for its creative storytelling. For some reason, I recently started watching the series' first season on Netflix. Now, I might be hooked on the show.

In the first episode of season one, the star quarterback suffers a spinal injury that leaves him paralyzed from the waist down. We watch as the young man tries to cope with his new reality, the relationship with his girlfriend, betrayal, and the future. We learn that paralysis of the body can lead to paralysis of the mind and soul.

The emotional journey of a person who suffered a life-altering injury is a story often told. What I found fascinating in Friday Night Lights is how they showed the impact of the injury on the girlfriend. She is an attractive young woman from a wealthy family. Her character is a free spirit who wants to live in the fast lane while maintaining a "good girl" image.

The girlfriend visits the hospital daily to encourage her boyfriend's recovery process. Yet, simultaneously, she begins a sexual relationship with her boyfriend's best friend. Everyone in town learns about her transgression, and she becomes the target of gossip and verbal abuse. Now, the young woman is dealing with her own paralysis.

“Before the truth sets you free, it tends to make you miserable.”

— Richard Rohr

This storyline in Friday Night Lights led me to think about all the different ways we can feel like a paralytic. A child in school is bullied. An adult discovers bullying does not stop when we graduate. People do things that they believe are unforgivable. A life without a functioning grasp of hope can cause life-threatening paralysis.

One of the most frustrating things for me as a pastor is meeting the Jesus presented in the news media. The news outlets do not create this "savior." They just like talking about him. This Jesus is the product of people who, in my mind, have spiritual paralysis. Despite being told God is love, they tell a story about everything God hates. Their Jesus will refuse to serve certain people, even though Jesus said to love your enemies.

I love this story in Matthew. It is simple and life-giving. Matthew reminds us that Jesus forgives sin and tells people to get up and walk even when critics do not want him to say it. The story reminds us of the friends we need to carry us when we are unable to move. The cure for spiritual paralysis is easy to access. We just need to hear the words of life and believe them. Jesus forgives, heals, loves, and cares for you. Open your ears and trust these words of life.

Click to read Matthew 9: 1-8