True Friend

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 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!”-Mark2:1-12

A few things struck me. First, the friends of the paralyzed man are true friends indeed. Some friends disappear in times of trouble. There are those who suddenly disappear when their friend loses power, money or influence. But the paralyzed man's friends stood by him in his lowest moment. In fact, it is their faith that contributed to his healing. Whereas the paralyzed man never uttered a word in the gospel (though I believe that deep inside he was crying out loud for mercy and forgiveness), I believe that the actions of his friends successfully sent to Jesus their friend's plea. Their united faith in Jesus' healing mercy was channeled to His heart successfully despite the absence of words. Second, Jesus indeed is a true Friend. Jesus did not just show healing and forgiveness only, but He showed that He is a God-made-man who truly loves us, truly cares for us and is a true Friend to us. How did we treat our friends and neighbors today?

Image courtesy: God's Not Dead