Recently in church we read the story, in the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 2, of the paralytic whose friends cut a hole in the roof for him to be lowered into the room where Jesus was speaking. Jesus tells him his sins are forgiven, then when there is grumbling about under whose authority Jesus could state that, he asks which is easier – to heal the man physically or spiritually. The paralytic receives both.
It occurred to me that because the man could not walk, I always assumed the man wanted his friends to get him near to Jesus to be healed so he could walk. But, we do not know that. He may have wanted to be lowered in to have his sins forgiven – only. Perhaps that is why Jesus tells him they are. Jesus knew his heart.
How often do we think our friends’ prayers are not being answered, when maybe at some deeper level, the ones they have not been willing to share with us are being answered? Healing occur on multiple levels, not just physically. At times, other healing must begin before physical ones can be manifested. At other times, the physical is not as important, even though to the world it is because the world see only what is on the outside.
Our job is not to question what happens once we bring our friends and family to Jesus – it is only to do all we can to get them into His presence once they ask for help – no matter what lies in the way. Our prayers can bore through anything which lies in the way – despair, hurt, anger, misunderstanding, even hardness of heart.
Is it significant that it took several friends to get the man to Jesus? I think so. Who are you helping to get closer to Christ right now?
