Learning About Skylights

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”

Mark 2:5 (CSB)

            I really like sunlight to shine into all the rooms in my house. I love my bright kitchen, and the soft, tree shaded light in my living room where I play piano. Yet, my back family room always has a dark hue. I have often considered putting in a skylight to bring some natural light into the room. So, I did some research on the functionality and feasibility of this addition. Interestingly I found a skylight receives light from the sky “dome” above rather than just the horizon so it admits more daylight. Also, skylights collect direct and dispersed light spread through the air, so even on cloudy days a space will be brightened. Finally, skylights are able to provide 35 – 50% more daylight than a vertical window of the same size. So, having this type of window in my back room could make a difference. This could be a great way to intercede into the darkness of a room that my family uses for so many activities.

            I know a story of some men who interceded through a skylight which brought everlasting life to a sick and dying friend. The book of Mark shares a story a bunch of buddies who so desperately wanted their pal to be healed. They had heard of the healings Jesus had been doing throughout the land and knew, beyond any doubt, if they could just get their companion in front of Jesus a great healing would be done. But as they approached the house where Jesus was staying their faith was tested. Hundreds of people, all looking for healing of some kind, or wanting to get a glimpse of this man they had been hearing about, were jam-packed around the house. Picture the scene; the crowd was impassable. Every doorway blocked by people pushing and jostling. The paralytic lay on a mat which the friends were carrying making moving into the crown even more difficult. You know the feeling, you are in line at Christmas time and people are no longer patient and remembering the joy of Christmas; congestion, heaving, frustration. You got it!

            This was definitely an obstacle the colleagues needed to overcome. How on earth were they going to get anywhere near the Healer. It seemed impossible and impassable. Yet, they continued on in faith. “Look!” one yelled, “stairs!”. So, through the crowd they goaded, each holding a corner of the mat so as not to let their friend fall and be injured. He was of absolutely no help as he was completely paralyzed. And what might he be thinking during all this thrusting and shoving? It is suggested he was worried about being healed because of the sin he had in his heart. Jesus knew this as well. He already knew the paralytic and his sins. Jesus already understood everything taking place and was aware of what was being played out on the stairs.

            Through faith, the friends mounted the stairs to the roof. Surveying the flat area, they knew they would have to brush aside some branches and dig in order to remove tiles to create a skylight big enough to lower the friend through. Imagine the racket this made! Inside Jesus was teaching to the priest and others who had gathered. Through the disturbance, Jesus would have stopped and looked up.

            Aren’t there these types of difficulties when we try to approach Christ. It always seems something gets in the way. We are temporarily bombarded by other’s awful behavior. A vacation creeps up and you have forgotten to take your Bible and study materials. You try to push passed the group who are trying to get you to follow their attitude about the boss, but there is just no room to pass. The sudden death of a loved one leaves you grieving and unable to get off the mat to help yourself. Or we don’t turn to Him because in our mind, our sin is unforgivable and we don’t believe He will heal us anyway. These are the time when we must turn to our friends and allow them to intercede for us.

            The man and his friends had to have faith, courage, and a true love for one another. The friends knew they needed to intercede for him by getting him to the feet of Christ. They were willing to do anything to help him be healed. This is why, you see, we must be willing to pray for our friends and to reach out and ask for prayer and support. Interceding through prayer for our friends, church, pastor, country, and family shows our faith, reflects Christ love to others, shows we are able to bear one another’s burdens, and aligns our hearts with God’s desire for others to know him. In this story the friend’s determination is a powerful picture of what intercessory prayer looks like today: carrying others to Jesus in faith, trusting Him to respond according to His perfect wisdom and love.

            Just as the skylight was able to shine God’s love on this man, and my skylight would illuminate a dark room, when we intercede in prayer, we become the skylight which shines Jesus’ love, forgiveness and healing on others in this hurting world. When Jesus sees our faith, He will then, forgive and heal the ones we intercede for. As a skylight is able to provide 50% more light, imagine what our prayers of intercession can do for those we love. Jesus was ready and waiting to answer the fervent prayers and heal this paralytic. Let’s give it a try and put our faith into using a skylight in order to show God’s love to those around us.

A Prayer For Today

Lord, You love us so much, it’s almost impossible to understand. Even though we continue to sin, You continue to look at us through adoring eyes. Thank You for being the One who intercedes for us to God our Father. Thank You for listening to prayers of intercession on our behalf so other’s may come to know You. Help us, today, to turn to You in intercession for those around us who may not be able to do it for themselves.

Today’s Journal

Write a prayer for someone you know who needs intercession. Ask God to intercede on your behalf for the person you are praying for.