Reflecting on the miraculous healing of the paralytic in Mark 2 and also on the sour response from the scribes are often some obvious and key focus areas when reading this scripture. However, I want you to focus today on the friends of the paralytic as you read. They not only brought their friend to Yeshua, but also were quite determined to get to Him. They were not easily discouraged.  Their actions changed the life of their paralytic friend.

Mark 2:1-13

The Paralytic Healed

      1When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? 10“But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11“I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” 12And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

      13And He went out again by the seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them.

I would encourage each of us, myself included, to seek out good and godly friends and invest time to build relationship with them. I would also encourage each of us to seek to invest time to be that friend and encourager for others in the body of Christ.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to be the friend to others like these men were to the paralytic Yeshua healed. Help me also invest in building relationships with others so that they can help build me up and encourage me when I need it. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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