What a Friend!

Today’s Reading:  Mark 2:1-12

Now that is some good friends!  They not only carried their paralytic friend to see Jesus, but when the crowd was too large to get to him, they climbed on the roof, dug a hole through it, and lowered their friend down on his mat.  Now I know the scriptures never mention the word ‘friend’ in this story, and while I can’t know for sure, I just get that feeling as I read this story.  I mean can’t you just see these  four men getting together to take their good friend who is crippled to be healed, not letting anything stand in their way---these men are determined to get him to Jesus.  Besides listen to what Jesus says when they do this---“when Jesus saw their faith” he forgave the man his sins and healed him.  Jesus saw not only their determination, but he saw the love that these men had for this man---it seems like they may have wanted this for him more than he did and isn’t that the truest, deepest love that you can have for your fellow man, to want more for them than they want for themselves.  So between this and the fact that Jesus forgave him of his sins before he healed him, what is Jesus trying to show us here?  Maybe reminding us of what is important, what should come first?  Healing is wonderful and miraculous but it does no good if we have not been forgiven first, forgiveness actually is a healing---the healing of our soul and there is nothing better than that!  And hasn’t Jesus been teaching us to put others first, put others before self and he will take care of the self part.  Isn’t that what these four men did, they probably all had some kind of need, but instead of focusing on themselves they focused on the need of their friend and I have no doubt that they were abundantly blessed for their actions as well.

I have many friends that I love dearly, but as I write this I cannot help but think about the song What a Friend We Have in Jesus and the truest friend that I have....Jesus Christ!