we’re just friends
“When Jesus saw their faith…” Mark 2:5
The Gospel story of the four men who brought a paralyzed man to Jesus is inspiring. We know they carried him on a mat (what a burden). We know there was a crowd in the way, so they dug a hole in the roof to simply get him to Jesus (they overcame obstacles). We know they did all of this because of their faith (seen clearly by Jesus).
What we don’t know for sure is something I’ve heard preachers and teachers speculate on for years, that this paralyzed man was a friend of the four guys carrying him. I’ve been told as an application to this scripture to “bring my hurting friends to Jesus like these men did.” However, I don’t see the words “their friend” associated with this man-on-the-mat in all three accounts of it in scripture (Matthew, Mark and Luke). He’s a man simply described by his ailment: paralyzed.
Perhaps the four men saw him on the side of the road. Perhaps they saw his pain. Maybe he was their friend. We aren’t quite sure how the relationship started. We just know, they had the faith that Jesus would heal this man. The lengths they went to weren’t because they were desperate for a friend. The difficult burden-carrying they did was because they were confident in the healing power of Jesus. They believed Jesus was who he said he was, and they lived in response.
As I read the passage with fresh eyes today, I sense that the application is more than “go get your friends and bring them to church or Bible Study.” I believe it’s actually: “Jesus has the power to heal and forgive. Demonstrate your faith by bringing people to Jesus!”
Talking to my friends and acquaintances about Jesus can be awkward if they don’t believe. What if they think I’m weird? It can be a burden of time or inconvenience. It can have physical obstacles that are insurmountable. Bringing my friends to Jesus simply because they are my friends is sometimes too difficult and often uncomfortable.
Being told to bring your friends to Jesus is often received as a weighty obligation.
But if I have faith that Jesus is truth and light and that he has the authority to forgive sins and the power to heal everyone, then bringing my friends (or even strangers) to Jesus is easy. It comes with confidence. It comes with a promise that won’t be broken. It comes with a willingness to carry burdens and tackle obstacles. It comes with the power of the Holy Spirit. It comes with joy because it’s about Jesus: not me and not my friend, reluctant or not.
Having faith that Jesus is who he says he is, is a joyful calling and a life-giving purpose.
Looking again at the scripture, I’m reminded that first, based on the faith of the four mat-carriers, the paralyzed man’s sins were forgiven and then, to increase the faith of the doubters, his body was healed.
The faith of the four men, it was a catalyst for the paralyzed man’s forgiveness of sins. It was an inner change, only possible through Christ.
Your faith will be that for your friends as well. Jesus will see your faith! Jesus will do the work that you can’t do.
I’m not sure of the timing nor if you’ll see it or know the results, but I do know that Jesus will see your faith. I do know he rewards our faith. I do know our faith matters in the body of Christ.
Maybe you’re wondering, “how do I grow my faith to be like these four men?”
Consider bringing someone who’s hurting to Jesus, to his Word, to his church, to his Body and wait with anticipation to see what happens. Jesus will see your mustard seed of faith, and he will lovingly respond.
Have faith!