I have always been moved by the story about the woman with a bleeding problem. She knew if she could just touch the hem of His garment, she would be healed. She had real faith. Real courage. But what happens when you get lost or consumed by the impossible?

Jesus was in a house teaching and there were crowds of people surrounding Him. Think large concert or Black Friday level thickness of a crowded. Four friends heard that Jesus was in Capernaum and knew if they could just get their friend to Jesus, He would be healed. This man was on a small mat, probably just big enough for a full grown man and he was paralyzed. These friends grabbed a corner, picked his friend and started taking him to Jesus. The Bible doesn’t say this but I can imagine them trying to nudge their way through, maybe negotiating with others desperately trying to get in. I can picture them even shouting to see if they could get Jesus’ attention. I can imagine one stops, looks up, nudges the other three and says “I have an idea, come on”.

Enough with my imagination.

They can’t get him to Jesus through the crowd. So they climb the roof. I did a study on typical houses of the time and if I understood correctly, houses typically had a flat roof and they used mud over the top of it.

Okay. So here’s my imagination again. Jesus is standing in a room teaching and suddenly dirt starts to fall onto Him. He looks up and the sun starts to peak in. He raises a hand to block the sun and see four elated faces bobbing around while this hole in the roof gets bigger and bigger.

Okay, I really am done imagining things.

These men lower their paralyzed friend down from the roof into the presence of Jesus. Talk about a labor of love. When Jesus saw the faith of his friends, he forgave the paralyzed man’s sins.

Did you catch that? Jesus cares more about your heart. He isn’t here just to heal physical needs, but spiritual ones too. Forgiveness is our most crucial need. It’s the only problem that has eternal consequences.

Scribes started doubting in their hearts saying that only God can heal. (Well Jesus is fully man and fully God so…) Jesus then asks them “Why do you question these things in your hearts?”. Then He physically heals the man, tells him to get up and walk which affirms His authority to heal. Both physically and spiritually.

Why do I mention this?

Our friends matter. The people we surround ourselves with matter. This is why Christian community is so important. The faith of the paralyzed man’s friends got him forgiven. I don’t know if he lacked faith or if he had it, but the fruit of their trust in who Jesus was spoke so loud, it got their friend healed.

1. Is your faith in Jesus for your friends that bold and that big?
2. Do your friends have that kind of faith in Jesus?

Who is carrying your mat? The friends could have left the man where he was. They could have given up when crowds were too thick. They could have walked away. But they didn’t. Good friends will help carry your heavy and will bring it to the feet of Jesus, knowing He can.

I have a few friends in my life that I trust with the raw and heavy things. The unfiltered things. They help me keep my thoughts holy and they hold me accountable. They speak truth in gentleness. They pray on my behalf with persistence. They bring my mat to Jesus.

Lately it seems like my physical stuff has been left unhealed, and that’s okay. I mean, sure, I wish my illnesses would pick a lane and stay in it, or maybe take turns? But Hallelujah anyways. I also have lots of blessings in the chaos and lots of my physical needs ARE met. Thank you Jesus. Above all, I can see that He is working to make me more like Him. I can see He is refining my character and my heart, calling me deeper into a relationship with Him. I saw a quote and I can’t remember where it’s from but it said something along the lines of “Jesus loves you like you are but He doesn’t leave you that way”.

I’m thankful for my people who help redirect my eyes to Jesus when they notice they’ve drifted a bit. For the people who come and sit in the mess with me and cry or worship or just listen. For the people who pray with me. These are the people that move the needle for the kingdom and I pray I do that for others. That my life and my faith point others to Jesus. That I help bring my friends to the feet of Jesus while we try to glorify Him in this life…

Under The Sun.