THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 2:1-5
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.'” (Mark 2:5)
I believe Jesus the good news for everyone, the greatest hope for all the world.
But so many people – including people I know and love – do not believe this.
What strikes me about this story is how Jesus sees the faith of the paralyzed man’s friends.
They love their friend, they are desperate to help him, to get him to Jesus.
Maybe breaking someone’s roof was over the top, but it alerted Jesus to their passionate faith.
The faith they show is not the ‘Apostles Creed’, believing right doctrines, kind of faith.
My guess is that they do not really know Who Jesus was, or why He really came.
All they knew was that there was something real, something powerful, something hopeful in this man.
Think of someone you know, someone you love, someone you are desperate to bring to Jesus.
You can’t bring them to Jesus in person, but you can bring them to Jesus in prayer.
Don’t let His invisibility, His silence, or His delay stop you!
Whatever obstacle is blocking your way: P.U.S.H. through, p.ray u.ntil s.omething h.appens!
Jesus will see your faith too, and will take it from there!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, this idea inspires me to pray again with determination. My love for people is nothing compared to Your love for them, and Your love for me. I will p.ray u.ntil s.omething h.appens!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
The miracle that was performed in the first few verses here shows that God has healed this man, not based on the paralyzed man’s faith or request. In fact it sounds like he was did not make a request. The paralyzed man’s friends’ faith is what seems to be the reason this man is healed. This is cool. That means that I can become an instrument for healing for others, and others can pray for me. I am not in isolation in my Christian faith.
Observations/Application
A return visit. And the people came where He was. Not is the synagogue but a house. They came in large numbers to hear the Master Teacher. No more room at the ‘inn’ for the hearers.
The friends of the sick man brought him to Jesus. They had concern for him and were determined to get him to see the Christ. Jesus saw their efforts, their faith and healed the man.
Urgency.
Proclaim to Word so they too, friends, relatives, to see Jesus. Bring them to Jesus. He is the answer.
I must be an instrument of His peace.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.