The Faith of Friends

Jesus heals a paralytic neighbor.

We are several days into Jesus zig-zagging across the Sea of Galilee. It really seems to have been a central place of ministry and transportation for him. Matthew has more than implied that Jesus settled in Capernaum as a home-base during his ministry and we can rest assured that this is the city to which Matthew refers in today’s passage.

Though the Sea of Galilee is as much a beautiful, scenic, touristy lake as anything today, it certainly served pragmatically as a means of quicker transportation from one town to another than walking would have been for 1st century Galileans.

The healing in today’s passage is interesting in that Jesus heals the man who was paralyzed based not upon his faith in Jesus’ ability, but upon his friends’. What a powerful example of care, compassion, and intercession.

What does this say about our opportunity and responsibility to bring friends before the Lord?

Matthew 9:1-8

Boarding a boat, Jesus crossed to the other side of the lake and went to his own city. People brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a cot. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man who was paralyzed, “Be encouraged, my child, your sins are forgiven.”

Some legal experts said among themselves, “This man is insulting God.”

But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you fill your minds with evil things? Which is easier—to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so you will know that the Human One has authority on the earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“Get up, take your cot, and go home.” The man got up and went home. When the crowds saw what had happened, they were afraid and praised God, who had given such authority to human beings.

Prayer

God,

Give me the same faith as those four who believed that by bringing their paralyzed friend to Jesus, he would heal him. I want to be such a friend and have such a faith.

Just today, I heard of a neighbor recently and newly diagnosed with cancer, a distant family member whose mother died, and most stinging to me, a dear friend who died from overdose after many years of struggle. These things make my busy day seem like an amusement park.

So I ask for your help in those three situations, God. For healing and for proper grief. For those who are more intimately involved in each of those situations. Lord, be near.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.