Because of the crowd, however, they could find no way to take him in. So they carried him up on the roof, made an opening in the tiles, and let him down on his bed into the middle of the group in front of Jesus. Luke 5:19, GNT

 

Recently, when I was asked to share, in a group, about a book that had impacted me significantly in my life it was one from childhood that stood out to me. I had been so delighted by it that even now, written emphatically in my childish handwriting, “I have a heavenly FATHER!” remains written on the inside cover.

 

It wasn’t a Bible but a small, grey, insignificant-looking book of stories of Jesus with hand-drawn, monochrome illustrations – not something you’d think would attract a child’s attention at all – and yet it was my treasure trove at that time – my first personal encounter with Jesus, and the verse highlighted today.

 

The illustration of the paralysed man being lowered down on ropes from a hole in the roof to bring him to Jesus fascinated me and also awakened my awareness of Jesus’ power at work – power his friends clearly thought worth pursuing.

 

Luke describes what he experienced there: “The power of the Lord was present for Jesus to heal the sick” (Luke 5:17b); “When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the man, ‘Your sins are forgiven, my friend’” (Luke 5:20), He also said, “I tell you, get up, pick up your bed, and go home!” (Luke 5:24) Would we have been as amazed as everyone there was when, “At once the man got up in front of them all, took the bed he had been lying on, and went home praising God.”? (Luke 5:25)

 

How those men must have rejoiced seeing their friend healed! Their compassion for a friend, combined with active faith in Jesus’ power to heal, led to physical healing, forgiveness of sins, and a man carrying his bed home rejoicing. Without his friends the paralysed man would still be paralysed, but their love, determination and faith turned his hopeless situation around because they persevered.

 

Paralysis is not only physical; fear, indecision, depression – in fact anything that makes us unable to act – can immobilise us. We need friends who can see our need, but we also need to be friends who show selfless love to others, prepared to pray and go the extra mile for those suffering physically, emotionally or spiritually, and persevere despite any obstacle, until they reach Jesus.

 

Jesus has told his followers “Love your neighbour as yourself.”(Matthew 22:39) What better way could we obey his command except to put our love and faith in action? What more could we want of our friends for ourselves?

 

Prayer: Dearest Father, thank you for the loyal, caring friends in my life who carry me into Jesus’ presence when I am paralysed and too weak to help myself. Help me to do the same for others and not to look at my limitations, but at Jesus’ power to heal, forgive and transform us all when we come to yim in love and faith. Amen