FAITH!
How many times as Christians have we used that word?
Jesus says in Scripture we only need a little. This is plain in Matthew 17:20:
“And He said to them, “Because of your meager faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
In His short time on this earth, Christ performed countless miracles; many involving healing. People were healed because of their faith.
But, the paralytic healing was different. He was healed because his friends had that small amount of faith.
So, let’s read the passage from Luke and learn how Jesus heals a paralyzed man — in a special way..
Luke 17: Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man – Friends
A Man Lowered Through a Roof
“One day He was teaching, and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing.
And some men were carrying a man on a stretcher who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him.
But when they did not find any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.
And seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”
The scribes and the Pharisees began thinking of the implications, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, except God alone?”
But Jesus, aware of their thoughts, responded and said to them, “Why are you thinking this way in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
And immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.
And they were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God. They were also filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today!” – Luke 5:17-32
A House of Stone and Straw
The house in this story most likely was made of stone with a thatched roof — held together with mud.
It had a case of stairs leading up to the roof.
So, the men carried their paralytic friend up the stairs, onto the roof and proceeded to take apart the straw and mud holding it in place.
Then, they lowered the man on his stretcher down in front of Jesus — to be healed!
The Faith of Friends
Why did they go to so much trouble just so Jesus could see their friend?
Well, there’s no other answer except faith. They believed that Jesus could heal the paralytic; or any who were sick.
Why This Man?
Simply, the faith of this man’s friends impressed Jesus.
With that faith, Jesus healed their friend.
What about Our Faith?
We have faith as Christians. We believe in God’s mighty power to work in any situation.
And, our faith sometimes affects others.
I can’t say how much faith the paralyzed man displayed. The Scripture doesn’t say.
But, I am sure he experienced the faithfulness of his friends. He learned that faith is a verb and that action led him to Jesus.
So, the question is; Do we lead people to Christ with our outward display of faith?
Many times we are afraid to be bold in sharing Jesus with others (present company included).
The men in this Bible lesson were brave enough to do everything they could to take their friend to the Savior. Are we?
Love in Christ
– Bob
If you have never made the commitment to receive the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to Read John 3:16 to learn how.
What is Faith – Video by Dr David Jeremiah..