There is a story in the Bible about some really great friends. I noticed something very interesting in this story, and it made me ponder some things.
Mark 2:2-5- And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
This man was so sick that he couldn't walk. The Bible never says that the man wanted to go see Jesus to get healed. We assume that he did and that he asked his friends for help, but what if this was not the case? What if this man had given up on ever being healed?
With that thought in mind, we look at the friends. These men brought their sick friend to be healed by Jesus. As they drew near to the house, they saw that it was so crowded there would be no way to get their friend close enough to Jesus to be healed.
Now, perhaps this friend thanked them and said, "You've done enough. Thanks for trying, but it's hopeless!"
We don't know. All we know is that these were very determined, very innovative friends. They climbed onto the roof of the house that Jesus was in. They removed the materials that composed the roof so that there was a hole large enough for their friend to fit through. Then, they hoisted their sick friend up onto the roof and then down through the hole and into the room.
Do you realize how much time this would have taken? How much effort? How much care they had for their friend? This was more than "I owe you a favor". This was "I love you enough to do whatever it takes"!
Now, here's the part of the story that really got to me. When Jesus saw their faith he healed the man. It wasn't the sick man's faith or desire to be healed. It was the faith that his friends had to go through what they did to get him there to Jesus.
There are times in my Christian walk that I don't have the faith I should. There are times when it hurts too much to find words to pray. There are times when I have cried more tears that I thought I ever could. And it is in those times that I depend on my friend's faith. I depend on my friend's prayers.
1Thessalonians 5:25- Brethren, pray for us.
Paul put it so simply- pray for us. Even the Apostle who was called by the Lord Himself, who was taught by the Apostles, and worked miracles by the power of Jesus' name asked for his friends to pray for him.
There is something about a friend's prayer that helps us through the dark times. We may ask others to pray for us, but it is our friends who really stand in the gap. They are the ones who pray fervently for us. They are the ones who remember us often.
James 5:16- Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James says to confess to each other and pray one for another. Why? Because we can tell our friends what's really deep in our hearts, and we know that our true friends will stop at nothing to put our needs before the throne of God.
This sick man in Mark chapter 2 would not have been healed if it had not been for his friends.
Are you willing to bridge the gap for your friends? When Jesus looks down on their needs will it be your faith that makes Him turn and help them when they haven't the words to pray themselves?
Are you a faithful friend?
