Their Faith

 There was a man in Capernaum. He was in dire need of healing. But not just any healing, but the kind that goes deep down into the heart and soul of a person. He needed forgiveness as well. This man was not only dealing with the physical consequences of his sins, but also the spiritual battle that came along with them. He has been to the Pharisees and the doctors to no avail. I would image he began to lose hope of ever being healed. He began hearing stories of others in similar condition that had been healed by Jesus. Despite the diagnosis of incurable sinner, he received hope from the healings of others. Not only had Jesus healed others, but He was right there in Capernaum. 

One problem. He couldn’t take himself to see Jesus. He was a paralytic. He immediately thought of his friends. He called on them to carry him to Jesus. There was no hesitation. They carried this man on his bed to the house where Jesus was. The crowd was thick in the house. No matter what the men tried to do, They could not get the man into the house to see Jesus. No amount of excuse me’s and pardon me’s were working. They could not enter the house. 

Twice now he could have lost all hope. And twice he refused to give up. Why not just go to the roof and drop him down? Without hesitation, the four friends climbed to the top of the roof and began breaking apart the roof. As each part of the roof was removed, I’m sure the excitement grew in the friends. Soon, they could see tops of people’s heads. Once there was enough space, the friends lowered the man, bed and all, down to the feet of Jesus. I’m not sure how the people were reacting. Maybe they were too busy listening to the words of Jesus to realize a hole was being formed in the roof. But there would be no way this could be ignored. A man being lowered on his bed from the roof to the feet of Jesus. 

All conversation ceased. All eyes were fixed on this man. Jesus could see true repentance in this man’s eyes. In Mark 9 verse 5, it says, “When Jesus saw THEIR faith, He said, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you.’”  

Their faith. Whose faith? The faith of the four friends and the paralytic. The friends had to have faith to carry him from his house to this house. They had to have faith to climb to the roof of the house. They had to have faith to make the hole and let him down. Those four friends did not lack faith. The paralytic did not lack faith. The faith of our friends may be all that we need to receive a blessing from Jesus. If his friends lacked faith, they would have spoken doubt when he asked to be taken to Jesus. His faith would have wavered. If they lacked faith, the man would have lost hope when they couldn’t enter the house due to the crowd. If they lacked faith, he would have lost hope and not asked to go up to the roof. The fact that they had faith, strengthened his faith instead of weakened it. He was able to keep pushing forward because they believed. He received the forgiveness he so desperately desire because his friends had faith, too. 

Who you hang out with, who you associate with really matters. Your inner circle is important. The faith of the people you call your friends is vital to your spiritual walk. I notice it is easier for me to be faithful in difficult situations when my friends speak in faith instead of doubt. I’m stronger spiritually when my friends are expressing their faith. I’m not saying that I rely on my friends for my faith or my spiritual walk. But I am saying their influence on me will either strengthen me or weaken me. Are those around you lifting you up? Are they speaking words of faith? Or are they harvesting doubt? 

So how does the story end? Ministry of Healing Chapter 5 says:

“The burden of guilt rolls from the sick man’s soul. He cannot doubt. Christ’s words reveal His power to read the heart. Who can deny His power to forgive sins? Hope takes the place of despair, and joy of oppressive gloom. The man’s physical pain is gone, and his whole being is transformed. Making. O further request, he lay in peacefully silence, too happy for words.”

The forgiveness was more powerful than the physical healing. The man needed both but was desperate for the forgiveness of his sins. Jesus healed both his mind and his body. In verse 11 of Mark 9, Jesus told him to arise, take up his bed and go to his house. And the people were amazed and glorified God. 

Chose your friends wisely. Surround yourself with faithful friends. It might be because of their faith you receive an answer to your prayer. And be the friend that is found faithful. This is possible only By God’s Amazing Grace.