From the passage of Jesus healing a paralytic, what can we learn from the helping hands of the said paralytic’s unnamed friends?
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”… He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2: 1-5, 12)
First of all, they had faith and confidence that Jesus was able to heal their friend. They loved the paralyzed man so much that they were willing to find ways to help him. When they could not get through the crowd, they were determined to find an extra-ordinary way to resolve the issue. They had the courage to interrupt Jesus who was preoccupied with teaching the crowd. It took much effort and a high level collaboration for them to drag their friend up the stairs and then lower him from the roof down to where Jesus was. It also implied that they were willing to bear the cost of repairing the roof!
Jesus saw their faith and the paralytic was healed. He had been completely helpless, but was then filled with hope, and given a new life. You and I can be a part of a miracle when we have faith, love, determination and teamwork.
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