CARRIED TO THE HEALER

There is a story in the Gospel of Mark 2 of Jesus “speaking the word” to some people who are gathered. Some friends of a man who was paralyzed heard about Jesus being in town and decided to take their crippled friend to see him in hopes of being healed. Here is the text:

“And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.  And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.  And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:1-5)

I have always liked this story. It makes me think of two main things: How great it is to be able to help and carry someone else to Jesus the Healer and Savior and secondly how great it is to have friends to carry us when we need taken and lifted down in front of the Healer.

The paralysis of sin, sickness and evil are in all our lives. Friends who can carry us and just take us to get closer to the Healer helps. But taken and set down in front of the Master…Woo Hoo!

“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he arose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” Jesus