Humans have a natural need to be loved and accepted. We want to have a loving family and caring friends around us. We want to be a loving family member and friend, as well. Not everyone has been blessed with a circle of friends or family members who truly care about them, but do you know the Bible tells us about a man who had four friends who cared about him so much that they did everything they could to get to Jesus and they did not let any obstacle get in their way? I believe we were told this story because that is what we are supposed to mirror in our own walk with God. We are to be the kind of friend or family member who has enough faith to do whatever it takes to present our loved ones at the feet of Jesus expecting nothing short of a miracle! Do you have that kind of faith? Let's read together about these incredible men!
Mark 2:1-5
And again He entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that He was in the house.
When Jesus is in the house, everyone should know it! Word got out that the Savior was there. The news spread that Jesus was there and for anyone who needed healing, saving, or even a miracle, they would have surely made their way to where Jesus was.
And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and He preached the Word unto them.
Everywhere Jesus went, when people found out, they would crowd in just to hear Him. Imagine listening to Jesus expound on the Scriptures, the Holy Word of the Living God and they were all wanting to be a part of that! Now, imagine, if you will, that this paralyzed man has four friends. Maybe he wasn't always paralyzed. Maybe they used to run and play together and they all could hang out and spend time together. It doesn't tell us in this passage all of the details but we know that these four friends heard about Jesus being in the house and they loaded up their friend and they were planning to have Jesus heal him. So picture in your mind this house FULL of people who were listening to Jesus preach. They may have tried to squeeze through but no one was budging. Maybe they even tried to explain to some of the people standing at the back door and no one was willing to step aside to let these men through.
Just how bad do you want your friends saved? How bad do you want them healed? How desperate are you for your friends' sake? What will you do to get them to the feet of Jesus? Let's read on as the scriptures talk about these friends for the very first time:
And they came unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 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.
These guys are serious! They are not playing!! These four men must have started looking through the windows, trying to get an idea of where Jesus was standing. Up they go to the roof. They start pulling apart the roof! They start pulling up clay tiles and the man on the cot must have been scared...the roof was not the best place to be laying on a cot when you are paralyzed. He sees his friends, though, and they are stooped over, tearing off clay tiles and discarding branches and grass that was strewn over wooden beams. Can you imagine what was going on inside the house?
Jesus is standing up sharing the Gospel message and all of a sudden you hear some clay tiles being ripped off the top of the house. Jesus must have paused for a moment and looked up. Sure enough there was some daylight starting to come through as a hole was made to put the man on the cot through and down to meet Jesus. These guys didn't give up! They always knew that Jesus would do it, they just needed to get to Him! When one way was blocked off, they just looked for another way! They would not stop until they were able to lay their friend at the feet of Jesus and guess what? It worked!
When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." When He forgave Him, He healed him. It was that simple! Jesus saw the faith of this man's friends and based on THEIR faith, not the sick guy's faith; but THEIR faith, He was saved and made whole! Because of the faith and the action of these four men, the man on the cot who was sick and lost, was able to have an encounter with the Son of the Living God and Jesus made it all right!
Are you praying for a friend? Do you have a family member heavy on your heart? Don't give up and don't stop praying for them! Do whatever it takes to get your loved one to have a true encounter with Jesus. They will never be the same again! You and I are not who we once were, thanks to Calvary! The blood of Jesus paid the price for our sins and for our healing. Don't stop believing God for a miracle on their behalf. God is bigger than cancer! He is stronger than any sickness or disease! He is not alarmed or disarmed by any of the struggles and ailments that we face! He has conquered death, hell, and the grave! Jesus is the Victor and if you have the faith, He will do a wonderful miracle for your loved one when He sees YOUR FAITH!
God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens