148 of 365 - A Friend

​And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.  Mark 2:4

Whispers abound…the healer is in town. He’s preaching at a house only a few miles away.  The foursome packs up a few supplies for the trip and secures their beloved friend on his pallet, each with a corner of his bed resting on one shoulder. I wonder if they talked among themselves on the way there, or if they were unusually silent, keeping their thoughts to themselves.

They make good time, just over an hour. When they reach the house, it is packed. People even spilling out into the entrance.

They only let disappointment set in for an instant before coming up with a plan. They climb the rickety staircase leading to the roof, careful to balance their friend. Climbing a few steps and then waiting for the crew at the back to catch up until they reach the top. They lay their friend down as they begin to piece by piece remove the roof tile. As the hole gets larger, they can’t help but stop to peek in and hear what the teacher is saying. Surely this is the one who can heal their friend. At last, the hole is big enough to fit the pallet through. They each take a wrap they brought and secure it to their designated corner of the bed. Slowly and steadily they lower the pallet. Wobbling all the way down, it lands with a loud thud in front of the teacher. It causes quite a stir. All eyes fixed on the helpless man in the messy bed.

The men rush down the back stairs and push their way through the crowd. Now the waiting. It is in the teacher’s hands. What will he do? They are certain healing is coming.

To what lengths do we go to put our friends in the presence of Jesus? Not only do they have faith, but they are also willing to do the hard work to see it produce fruit. To not just say it and think about it and pray about it, but to act on it. We all need friends willing to carry us to Jesus!
 
Questions: Do you have friends like the paralytic man? Are you this kind of friend? What would you do to bring your friends to Jesus?