The Paralytic’s Friends

  Greetings from Mary Wallace for the Women’s Council~

Luke’s story of Jesus’ healing the paralytic has captivated my attention (5:17-26). I can picture these men, the paralytic’s friends, strategizing how to get the stretcher into the house. I wonder which man was the engineer who had the bright idea to remove the ceiling tiles and lower the stretcher right at Jesus’ feet?! They were a determined bunch – whether for the love of their paralyzed friend or from confidence in a supernatural man – they were going to get their friend to Jesus one way or another. Do you think they were perplexed when Jesus initially chose to forgive the man’s sins rather than heal him? After all, the men brought their friend to Jesus for physical healing. The paralyzed man got a double blessing in that his sins were forgiven AND his legs were healed! Jesus knew what was in the hearts of the Pharisees (doubt/contention), but he also knew what was in the hearts of this man’s friends – faith. Jesus chose to forgive the man’s sins as a result of his friends’ faith. (v. 20) Jesus eventually healed the man in order to prove His authority as God’s Son to the Pharisees. Verse 26 tells us how the story ended:

“Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled
with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.””

The paralytic’s friends were on an assignment: They were intent upon getting their sick friend to Jesus for healing. Crawford Loritts talks about God’s assignments in his book, Leadership As An Identity. Crawford comments:

“God’s assignments involve changing your life as a leader just as much as they involve changing the people you want to reach. God is constantly at work in building your character – making you more like Christ. He wants to build your faith as He works through you and as you encounter Him.”

The paralyzed man reaped the benefit of his friends’ faith and their persistence. Don’t you know his faith was strengthened in an incredible way that day?

Our MidSouth Women’s Council took time at our meeting Wednesday to pray for you. It was our privilege to “lower you at Jesus’ feet”. We are excited to see how God is going to move among us this year. God is at work in ways that we cannot even imagine! He wants us to minister out of pure hearts, but He also wants to free us from the things that paralyze and keep us from being effective for His Kingdom work.

~What assignment are you on that is making you more like Christ?

~ What remarkable things have you seen in your life today that only God could do?

~ How is your faith inspiring those around you?

Please share your response as a comment below. Thanks!