Asia Area Leader Message
Augest 2010

Rescue in Unity
Elder Sam Wong
Of the Seventy

As we have been invited by our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, to reach out and rescue, a story in the New Testament comes to my mind.  In my opinion, it is the perfect illustration of how ward council could work together in unity to reach out and rescue.  The story is found in Mark 2:3, 4, and 5.  It is as simple as counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 

Verses 1 and 2 gave us the background of the story.  Jesus was in Capernaum and his fame at that time caused people to gather themselves as a big crowd to come see him.  There were so many people gathered in the room that it was extremely crowded.  Jesus took the opportunity to preach unto those people.

Now, here comes the “Rescue” story.  I always find that the stories Jesus used to teach us certain doctrines or principles are always the most ideal.  One of the characters in the story was a paralytic, someone who was not able to move without assistance.  He has to wait at home for help, wherever that might be.   His home could well be in an isolated corner in one of those back streets.  Being borne of four, he came to the place where Jesus was.

These four people, for whatever reasons, arranged a home visit to this man who was sick of palsy.  Personally, I think they were fulfilling their assignment given by their bishop.  I could almost visualize that one of them was from the Relief Society, one from the elder’s quorum, one from the Aaronic Priesthood and, last but not the least, was a fulltime missionary.   In the last ward council, after discussing the needs of certain individuals, the bishop gave out “Rescue” assignments.  These four were assigned to help this man who was a paralytic.  They could not wait for him to come to church by himself.  They had to make a home visit.  They had to seek him out by going out to find him and they did.  The man was being brought back to Jesus. ---Mark 2:3:  “And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.”

However, the room was too crowded.  They could not get in through the door.  I am sure they had tried very hard to get through.  They just could not get through.  Things did not happen as smoothly as planned.  There were obstacles along their way of  “Rescue.”  However, they did not give up.  They did not leave the palsy by the door.  They possibly counseled together on what to do next; how they could bring the palsy unto Jesus Christ for healing.  The work to assist Christ in saving souls was never too demanding, for them at least.  They came up with a plan, not an easy one, but they acted on it. ---Mark 2:4: “And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.”

They brought him up to the roof.  This is how I imagined the situation.  The young man from his ward climbed up the roof first.  Being young, full of energy, and of small stature, it should not have been too difficult for him.  His senior home teaching companion from the elder’s quorum and the tall full-time missionary from Utah would have pushed really hard from down below.  The Relief Society sister would have reminded them to be careful and given them words of encouragement.  It presumably would have taken them quite some time to get all five of them on the roof.  The men uncovered the roof while the sister continued to comfort the palsy while he was waiting to be healed ---to be able to move and to be free. 

Now, if in this story, only one person is willing to help, the job could not get done.  This rescue assignment needs people working together.  At the crucial moment, it would take careful coordination to lower the palsy from the roof.  It would take careful coordination.  The four had to work in perfect harmony.  There could not be any discord among the four.  They had to lower the palsy in the same pace.  Otherwise, the palsy would fall out of his bed.  He just could not hold on by himself due to his own disability.  In order to assist Christ, we have to work together in perfect harmony.  Every one, every position and every calling is important.  We have to be united under our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Mark 2:5: “When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”  ---Finally, the sick of the palsy was laid before Jesus.  Jesus showed mercy on him and healed him.  Not only physically, but also spiritually--- “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”  Isn’t that wonderful?  Wouldn’t we like that to happen to us all too?  Certainly I would.

In conclusion, I would like to share with you one more hidden treasure found in these scriptures.  It is in verse 5 “When Jesus saw THEIR faith.”  I did not notice this in the past--- THEIR faith.  Our faith will also affect the well being of others. Who were those people that Jesus was mentioning?    It could well include the four who carried the palsy, the palsy himself, the people who had prayed for the palsy, and all those who were there listening to the preaching of Jesus and cheering quietly in their hearts for the soon-to-come miracle.  We all can help one another.  We should always be anxiously engaged in seeking out to rescue. 

I testify that Jesus Christ is a God of miracles.   He loves us all and has the power to save.  When we assist Him in his mission of saving souls, we will be rescued too in the process.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. ■