Mat Carrying and Other Great Ways to Bless a Friend

There is this incredible story in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus was in the city of Capernaum, in a house, preaching to a packed house. The place was so full there wasn't room for any more people. Then we read this:

Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn't get to Jesus through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above his head. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My son, your sins are forgiven." (Mark 2:3-5)

I want you to take note of a couple of things in this story. First, there was a man who was paralyzed. Not so unusual, right? But the first thing it says is "four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat". That's a little less than usual, don't you think? This man, paralyzed for whatever reason, had 4 friends who cared enough about him to take him to see Jesus because they knew Jesus could heal the man.

Well, they couldn't get in. Standing room only. Ticket holders only, sorry. So, let's go home. End of story, right? Wrong! These 4 guys apparently REALLY cared about their friend so they came up with "the housetop plan". They got up on top of the house, dug through the roof ofthe house (which had to make the owner VERY happy...) and lowered their friend down through the roof to get him to Jesus. Now THOSE are friends!!!

But wait, it gets better. I'm gonna guess that if you've read this story you might have missed this part. Verse 5 says, "Seeing their faith...." Did you catch that? "Seeing THEIR faith......." Whose faith? The faith of the paralyzed man? No. The faith of the crowd Jesus was speaking to? Nope. THEIR refers to the 4 friends. THE 4 FRIENDS!!! How incredible is that?!?! Jesus saw the faith of the paralyzed man's four friends and healed the paralyzed man.

Great story......what does it mean for you and me? We don't have to look very far to find those who believe they are alone. You and I see them everyday. You attended church with some of them yesterday. Some of them live next door, or work in your building. The world is full of people who have lost all meaningful connection with others, and who now, convinced they are alone, live empty and isolated lives.

The man in Mark's Gospel was healed that day, and his sins were forgiven, because first his friends cared enough to show him that he was not alone. It was their faith, and their faithfulness, that brought a miracle into this man's life. Look around you. Someone nearby believes that he or she is alone, and YOU can make a huge difference in their life.

So I encourage you today......and every day.......look around you. There are people everywhere who are paralyzed by hopelessness, fear and feelings of being alone. Will you make the effort to "carry their mat"? You could be the one to make all the difference in their world today.

Blessings to you, dear friends! Thank you for your willingness to touch the lives of others.....and in doing so, we all receive God's blessings in our lives as well!