Mark 2:1-12 is the account of the paralyzed man who was carried to Jesus by four friends while he was lying on a mat. His friends were so determined to get their friend to Jesus that the crowds did not deter them. Instead, the men climbed to the roof of the house where Jesus was teaching, removed the tiles from the roof and lowered the man down through the roof to Jesus.
“And Jesus seeing THEIR faith said to the paralytic, “Son your sins are forgiven” vs. 5
“I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” vs. 11
The man was healed not because of his faith but because of his friends (their) faith. There will be times that we will need to collectively surround a brother or sister in Christ and carry them to Jesus because their faith is weak. Too many times, and sadly so, the church today kicks their own when they are down instead of coming alongside and encouraging an individual to persevere … or to say, hey I will walk with you for awhile … or even better, I will carry you and see you through. I have a feeling we haven’t heard Jesus say, in quite sometime, “Now there is faith and because of their faith, you my child are set free!”
Notes from Debbie's Desk 