The passage found in the beginning of Mark is one of my all-time favorites. For many, they would think the reason is because of a man being made to walk or how Jesus dealt with the heart of the person as he spoke to him as he was lying on the mat. Both very meaningful parts of the passage but that’s not it.
What moved Jesus to heal this man? Reading the first few verses we see four men who were adamant with making sure Jesus would see their friend. They walked across town, climbed to the roof of the house and then ripped a whole in the roof so that their friend would have the best possible chance of being healed. At any point, these friends could have given up but they didn’t.
It says, “When Jesus saw their (the friends) faith..” Jesus was moved by the compassion, desperration and persistence of these men making sure their hurting friend would see Jesus. WOW! That is friendship. To not gie up or be frustrated with others “problems” reveals the heart of a friend. If Jesus was moved because of their faith, how is he moved by our faith and compassion for others?
Today who is someone you know who is hurting? Be like one of these friends and reach out to them. Even more importantly reach out to Jesus with the anticipation He would intervene in their life.
