Friends Who Remodel

In Mark 2:1-12, we encounter a powerful story of faith, friendship, and divine healing. A paralyzed man, unable to walk, was brought to Jesus by his friends. Because of the crowd, they were unable to reach Jesus directly. Undeterred, they carried their friend to the roof, tore it open, and lowered him down before Jesus.

This act of faith and perseverance speaks volumes about the love and support these friends had for their paralyzed companion. In their silence and helplessness, they relied on the strength and determination of their friends to bring them to Jesus.

I see it happening like this:

Days turned into weeks, each one a monotonous blur of pain and loneliness, as the paralyzed man lay on his mat. The weight of his pain pressing down upon him like a heavy blanket.  He had grown accustomed to the pitying glances and the well-intentioned words of comfort that offered little solace. His spirit had dimmed and had become replaced by a weary resignation to his fate. He slept as often as he could because sleep protected him from being awake to his circumstances.

One morning, he was jolted awake by the excited voices of his friends. They were asking him if he was ready to be healed today. “Are you ready to get up and move again?”

A man named Jesus was in town, and his friends were coming to carry him to the feet of the one who could heal him, inside and out. The lame man’s heart stirred, a flicker of doubt igniting within him. Could it be true? Could Jesus truly heal him?

He had heard stories of Jesus' miraculous powers, of the lame walking, the blind seeing, and the dead rising. But those stories seemed so distant, and their healing was because they had deserved to no longer suffer. But him? His own actions had helped him get here. Karma is what some people had said.

His friends sensed his hesitation. They gently encouraged him, reminding him of their unwavering belief in his healing. They spoke of the hope within their hearts; a hope that refused to be put down by despair. Their words began to break through the doubt that had covered his soul.

With a newfound determination, he allowed his friends to lift him onto a makeshift stretcher. As they carried him through the crowded streets, I imagine he felt a surge of gratitude for their unwavering support. Their faith his ability to be healed must have felt amazing.

When they finally reached Jesus, unable to get close to Him on level ground, they carried him to the roof, and he was lowered through a hole they had ripped open. His body suspended in mid-air. He looked up at Jesus, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and fear. Jesus, with a compassionate gaze, spoke to him, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

His heart leaped with joy. He had been forgiven! But then, Jesus added, "Get up, take your mat and go home."

His body trembled with excitement as he attempted to stand. At first, his muscles felt weak and unfamiliar. But with each passing moment, he felt a surge of strength coursing through his limbs. Slowly, he stood, his feet planted firmly on the ground. He took a tentative step, then another. To his astonishment, he was walking!

As he walked away, his heart overflowing with gratitude, I imagine he could have turned to his friends and said, "Thank you. Your faith has healed me."

Isn't it a beautiful reminder that even in our darkest moments, when we may feel paralyzed by fear, doubt, or circumstances beyond our control, we are not alone? We have friends who, like those in the story, are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to bring us to Jesus.

These are the people who surround us, offering their love, support, and prayers. They are the ones who lift us up when we cannot stand, who speak for us when we cannot find our voice, and who point us towards the healing power of Jesus.

One of the biggest blessings I have experienced in some of my darkest moments was to get a text, phone call, or message simply saying, “Dan, you are loved, and today I have been praying for you.”

I am so grateful for the friends who actively lift us closer to the divine. I want to be that friend. I may not have the ability to heal the pain of another, but I can help tear the roof off depression, fear, anger, and disillusionment to help carry someone to Jesus.

~Daniel