The Miracle of Friends

Mark 2:1-12 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 you.”
And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic,  “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”  Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”


Wednesday night one of my pastors shared this story during praise and worship.  He was talking about those who carried the paralytic, when he couldn't do it himself.  It was in reference to the church needing to help each other, and carry those who are down trodden.  As he spoke my mind went to a discussion with a friend who is trying to quit smoking.  She had started to ask a group of us for prayer, but decided against it because she didn't want to be a bother.  We quickly let her know, that we want to be there to support her.

As I went back and read this story, there are several things that I learn from this:

1. It is important to seek out God for others' needs
2.  Don't be discouraged by the obstacles
3. Be willing to be inconvenienced when someone else has a need
4. Lives must be lived in close proximity to others, with people that would press past pride or pain to help
5. Some problems take the help of more than one person
6. Be honest with others about the need
7. Don't assume others know what you need - the crowd didn't move when they saw the paralytic
8. Faith is seen in action
9. Don't let the grumbling of others stop the miracle
10. God is glorified when people see the need and the miracle
11. Don't delay your miracle because you don't want people to carry you