In Mark 2: 1-12 we read about some men who worked hard to get their friend help. You see their friend was paralyzed and was unable to walk. The men had heard that Jesus was in town and that Jesus had the power to heal. In fact, it was reported that Jesus had healed many people. So the men thought that if they could get their friend in front of Jesus, he could be healed. The problem was that everyone else in the town wanted to see Jesus too, and crowds surrounded Jesus wherever he went.
Now the men heard that Jesus was going to be hosted in a home in town and so they made a plan to get their friend into the house. They placed their friend on a stretcher and carried him towards the house. When they arrived, there was such a crowd that they were unable to enter the house through the front door. The men were so disappointed. But they were not going to be stopped.
The house like most of the other houses in the neighborhood had steps leading up to the roof. The roof was flat and made of moveable tiles. The men decided that if they carried their friend up to the roof, they could remove some roof tiles and lower their friend into the house. Their friend could have a front row seat to see Jesus.
Imagine what it must have been like if you were a guest in the house. Suddenly you hear a sound overhead and feel some dust on your head. You look up and see a stretcher being lowered down from the roof. A surprise for sure.
Jesus looked at the man on the stretcher. He could see that the man needed help and that his friends had gone to a great deal of trouble to help him. Jesus understood that his friends believed that He had the power to heal their friend. Jesus cared for the man and wanted to help him. Jesus knew that the man ‘s biggest problem was that he needed forgiveness for his sin. Jesus spoke to the man and told him that his sins were forgiven. Then Jesus told the man to get up off the stretcher and walk. The man was got up and walked. He glorified God for His help. The crowd in the house was amazed as they realized that Jesus had healed the man. The man’s friends on the roof were so happy. Their faith and hard work meant that their friend met Jesus face to face and was healed.
There are many things that this story teaches.
- We are reminded that Jesus cares and loves everyone.
- Jesus is all powerful.
- The men were smart to believe that Jesus had the power to help their friend. men cared about their friend and did something to help him.
Here is a verse from the Bible that reminds us how we should treat our friends.
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. ” Ephesians 4:32
You can review the story as you colour this picture.
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