The word spread so quickly that He had arrived home. The house filled with friends and family who wanted to visit with him. It was a good thing there was plenty of room even outside for the crowd of visitors grew.
It was then the four men showed up with their friend. Paralysis prevented the friend from walking so they carried him to the house on a mat.
Upon arriving, they faced the challenge of navigating the crowd in order to get their friend to Jesus. By this point, the crowd had so thickened, no one would let them through.
So they did the only thing they could – they dug a hole through the thatched roof and lowered their friend down right in front of Jesus.
I wonder, did the man ask for their help? We are not told. Did they take it upon themselves to bring him to Jesus? We’re not told this either.
As I read the familiar story, one verse stood out to me:
“Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
(Mark 2:5, NLT)
(Mark 2:5, NLT)
Jesus upon seeing the faith of the friends, forgave the sins of the paralyzed man, and then healed him. The man was able to walk home that day, not because of his own faith, but because of the faith of his friends.
I want to be this kind of a friend to the people in my life. We – all of us – are called to carry others to Jesus in prayer.
“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2, NLT)
All of us have burdens and none of us are able to carry our burdens
alone. God has so created community, and the Church at large, to be
there for one another. When one struggles, we all feel the struggle. And
when one rejoices we all get to join in.
May we each be the friend willing to carry others,
and point them to Jesus.
and point them to Jesus.
These friends are such a great example, and it is a good challenge to look at how we can bring our own friends to Jesus. I love that the man was healed not because of his own faith but because of the faith of his friends!
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