THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR
And again, He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him, because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”Mark 2: 1-5
I've read this passage dozens of times over the years, but last Thanks giving as I was writing my Christmas sermon, I was nearly side tracked by a facet of this story that I had not really considered: The faith of the paralyzed man's friends caused Jesus to forgive him of his sins. His sins were forgiven because his friends dragged him to Jesus. Wow.
I have a very deep imagination.Sometimes my mind can act as it's own movie theater or music studio. Life is a scene, and each moment has a soundtrack. It is how I think, and view the world. One of the things I often find myself doing to absorb the Gospel as deeply as I can is to picture myself being alive during the time of Christ. Also, I will let scenes from His life play out as if they are happening in modern day America.
So, picture it being a beautiful day in your neighborhood, andJesus Christ has picked your house to preach one of his sermons. Your living room, front and backyards and up and down the street are shoulder to shoulder people. People just want to see Him.People just want to Hear Him. A few of the people you know, but most of them are people you have never seen before. Half of the town is either in or around your house, in your neighbor's yard...everywhere. The crowd is too deep for even the cops to pull up in their squad cars, but they heard about this Jesus-guy, and know that at some point, everyone will eventually go home peacefully.
You are right there, standing with Jesus,Peter, Mark and the gang, hanging on every word that comes out of Jesus Christ's mouth...when a chunk of drywall thumps you in the head. Shocked, you andJesus look up after taking a few steps back and see the hole in your ceiling getting bigger and bigger. Soon, a couple of dudes peek through the hole, smile sheepishly and apologize for the mess.Then, with everyone looking on in shocked silence, they begin to lower this dude tied to a slab of wood through the hole on a rope. Their faith in Jesus Christ was so strong, and their love for Jesus Christ was so great that they risked going to jail simply because they knew Jesus could heal their friend.They carried this dude across town on a plank of wood, found your house, muscled through the crowd, went into your garage and found a ladder, shovel, saw, ax and a rope. They climbed on your roof and cut a hole through your roof and ceiling because they believed. That is faith. It doesn't even say whether or not the paralyzed dude had as much faith...but he was healed based on the faith of his four friends.
Laugh if you want, but that is exactly what took place wayback then. During the time of Jesus, the typical Palestinian home was usually made of clay, with a door in the back, one in the front, and maybe a couple of windows here or there. Usually, there was a small row of stairs that led up to the roof, Back then, roofs acted the same as patios or basements where clothes were dried, goods were stored or valuables were kept. The roofs of most homes were as essential as any other part of the house.The men who carried the
paralyzed man to Jesus did not bring digging or cutting tools...and when they got to the house, they did not anticipate there being so many people with their own needs, agendas and problems to bring to Christ. There was no premeditation to do what they did. Faith drove them.
Think about it: for whatever reason, this paralyzed man could not or would not come to Christ on his own.For all his reasons or excuses, this guy still had four friends that would not give up on him. They had his back even when he would not or could not help himself.
In the Websters Dictionary, a friend is defined as someone whom one knows well and is fond of. A friend is defined as anally, supporter or sympathizer. But for Christian brother and sisters, friendship is so much more.
For us, a friend becomes someone who has your best interest at heart. It is someone who will drop everything for you, who will sacrifice of themselves to help you.A Christian friend is someone who will recognize ailments and shortcomings you maybe blind (or paralyzed) too. A Christian friend is someone who celebrates your joys with you, but has no problem telling you when you are wrong, and will help seek a solution for whatever problem you may have. A real friend will tie you to a board and lower you through the roof if it means you will walk again.
A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.Proverbs 17:17
How many friends do you have who would carry you on a board if you couldn't walk, guide you if you were blind, or seek a cure for you if you were sick? How many friends do you have that you would do that for?
He who walks with wise men will be wise,But the companion of fools will be destroyed.Proverbs 13:20
As Christian men and women, Christian leaders and Christian musicians, the best advice I have for any of you is to always try to surround yourself with people you know to be stronger in faith than you, and deeper in wisdom than you. They will cause you to elevate your faith, increase your knowledge, enhance your gifts and talents, and put you in a better position where people can follow you and learn from you.Too many people in our past lives can be“fair-weather friends...”who stick around when the going is good, but leave when the relationship does not benefit them anymore. A Christian friend is there when we need them the most, even when there is nothing to gain.
In conclusion, let me leave you with this piece of scripture:
“...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching. ”Hebrews 10: 22--25
With us being washed and renewed in the blood of Christ, we are not only blessed to be able to have and build a relationship with him, it allows us to grow in faith. And, as we grow in faith, we are better able to enjoy relationships, motivations, friendships, support and help from each other because we are of one accord. Together, we are unified with Christ as a body of believers. Together, we are unified with Christin His Death, and together we are unified with Him in His resurrection...And together we share the bond of love and true freedom through true friendship with each other. God bless you and stay prayed up.
From everyone at Solafide Jam…Stay Prayed Up.