Faithful Friends
Scripture reference: Mark 2:1-12
"There is no way we can ask him to come way the heck out here into the middle of nowhere. We simply must take Jesse to him."
Jacob spoke to his brothers Jason and Saul, and their cousin Matthew, as he stitched up the leather sleeve a wooden pole would go through. This would complete one side of the stretcher he was making which he, his brothers, and thier cousin would use to carry their neighbor, Jesse, to the Rabbi they had heard of living in Capernaum. Word had come to even their remote location that this man, named Jesus, can heal all ailments. Without doubt or question, as soon as Jacob and his brothers had heard this news, they made the decision to take their friend, Jesse, to him.
Capernaum is a good half day journey under normal conditions. Four men carry the weight of another between them would add difficulty and time to the journey. For that reason they had decided to set out before dawn of the next day. So Jacob worked quickly at his task of making the stretcher. Then they would have a meal together before going to bed to get enough rest for the day ahead.
The stretcher complete and their bags packed, the four men sat down for the evening meal. Jacob, the oldest, led them in prayer.
"Heavenly Father, we thank you for this food, this land, and this home; all of which we acknowledge are gifts from you. We also thank you for sending your servant, this Jesus of Caprernaum, to our people. We know by the things reported of him that he must be from you as another gift to your children. And for that we are deeply grateful. May we prove ourselves worthy of the blessing we know you will give to our friend, Jesse. By your holy name we pray; Amen."
The morning star shown brightly just above the Western horizon as the men set out on their mission. Jacob and Jason took the forward positions, while Saul and Matthew held the rear end of the poles. Their friend, Matthew, lay on his stretcher softly speaking his morning prayers. Joy and excited filled all of their hearts. For deep within themselves they knew that today was a very special day. A day proclaimed by God himself. Today their friend would be healed of his lameness, and be able to walk. None of them could explain how or why they knew this with such strong conviction. They simply knew in their heart's that God would make it so.
Joy and hope (confident expectation) dominated the minds of the brothers and cousin as they transported their friend toward Capernaum. They recited psalms and sang hymns of praise to God as they traveled. The very Spirit of God gave them strength and made their feet sure so that they did not stumble. In this manner they happy group made good time, and arrived at Capernaum at mid-morning. With a few inquires and little difficulty, the four friends found the house where the Rabbi was already teaching.
"Oh, man!," explaimed Jacob. "Look at that crowd! There isn't enough space between those people for a fly to pass. I see no way we can get through such a great crowd so tightly packed together. How are we going to get Jesse in there?"
"Look over there," Jason said as he pointed toward a chicken coop attached to the South side of the house. "We could climb up onto the roof of that, and then onto the roof of the house. Then we could tare off some of the roof tiles, and lower Jesse through the hole. The rabbi would have to take notice of him. Then, if he is as great as we have heard, surely he will touch Jesse and make him well."
There was some discussion of this rather odd idea, but the determination to see their friend healed decided the matter. And the attention of the crowd was so captivated by the words they were hearing that no one noticed the men slowly climbing and pulling their load to the roof of the small house. Neither did anyone seem to be aware that four men were tarring a hole in the roof. So it was just a matter of about half an hour before the friends of Jesse began to lower him down into the house. As it was, he was descending from the roof right in front of Jesus.
Jesus became silent, and the crowd began to murmur, as all eyes took notice of the pallet being slowly lowered from the hole in the roof. Jesus was not looking at the silent Jesse lying on the bed, but up into the faces of his four friends. As the eyes are the window to the soul, Jesus saw the faith in each man; the conviction that what they were doing would not go unrewarded. And he knew they were not seeking reward for themselves, but a blessing for their friend. Jesus was touched both by their faith and their compassion.
Jesus then looked into the face of Jesse and said, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
Now there were some teachers of the law sitting in the front row, and they were shocked to hear Jesus tell the man that his sins are forgive. They were thinking, "Who does this character think he is?! Only God can forgive sins. He commits blasphemy!"
Jesus knew what the haughty Pharisees were thinking, so he spoke directly to them saying, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take up your mat and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on Earth to forgive sins..."
Then Jesus once again looked Jesse right in the eyes and said, "I tell you, get up, take up your mat and go home."
And with that, Jesse stood up, rolled up his pallet, held it in his right hand lying on his right shoulder, and walked toward the door. The crowd, like the Red Sea before Moses, parted and allowed him to pass. His faced beamed with the happiness filling his heart as tears of joy streamed down his face. The eyes of the room followed him while the voices whispered to each other, "Praise the God of wonders. This is amazing! We have never seen anything like this!"
Jesse emerged from the house to the sound of joyful cheers from the crowd and his friends who had jumped off the roof and were running toward him. They hugged and kissed and laughed and cried. And then, singing hymns of praise to God, they set off for home.
May the God of wonders give some amazing blessings and miracles. Praise God! Amen.
"There is no way we can ask him to come way the heck out here into the middle of nowhere. We simply must take Jesse to him."
Jacob spoke to his brothers Jason and Saul, and their cousin Matthew, as he stitched up the leather sleeve a wooden pole would go through. This would complete one side of the stretcher he was making which he, his brothers, and thier cousin would use to carry their neighbor, Jesse, to the Rabbi they had heard of living in Capernaum. Word had come to even their remote location that this man, named Jesus, can heal all ailments. Without doubt or question, as soon as Jacob and his brothers had heard this news, they made the decision to take their friend, Jesse, to him.
Capernaum is a good half day journey under normal conditions. Four men carry the weight of another between them would add difficulty and time to the journey. For that reason they had decided to set out before dawn of the next day. So Jacob worked quickly at his task of making the stretcher. Then they would have a meal together before going to bed to get enough rest for the day ahead.
The stretcher complete and their bags packed, the four men sat down for the evening meal. Jacob, the oldest, led them in prayer.
"Heavenly Father, we thank you for this food, this land, and this home; all of which we acknowledge are gifts from you. We also thank you for sending your servant, this Jesus of Caprernaum, to our people. We know by the things reported of him that he must be from you as another gift to your children. And for that we are deeply grateful. May we prove ourselves worthy of the blessing we know you will give to our friend, Jesse. By your holy name we pray; Amen."
The morning star shown brightly just above the Western horizon as the men set out on their mission. Jacob and Jason took the forward positions, while Saul and Matthew held the rear end of the poles. Their friend, Matthew, lay on his stretcher softly speaking his morning prayers. Joy and excited filled all of their hearts. For deep within themselves they knew that today was a very special day. A day proclaimed by God himself. Today their friend would be healed of his lameness, and be able to walk. None of them could explain how or why they knew this with such strong conviction. They simply knew in their heart's that God would make it so.
Joy and hope (confident expectation) dominated the minds of the brothers and cousin as they transported their friend toward Capernaum. They recited psalms and sang hymns of praise to God as they traveled. The very Spirit of God gave them strength and made their feet sure so that they did not stumble. In this manner they happy group made good time, and arrived at Capernaum at mid-morning. With a few inquires and little difficulty, the four friends found the house where the Rabbi was already teaching.
"Oh, man!," explaimed Jacob. "Look at that crowd! There isn't enough space between those people for a fly to pass. I see no way we can get through such a great crowd so tightly packed together. How are we going to get Jesse in there?"
"Look over there," Jason said as he pointed toward a chicken coop attached to the South side of the house. "We could climb up onto the roof of that, and then onto the roof of the house. Then we could tare off some of the roof tiles, and lower Jesse through the hole. The rabbi would have to take notice of him. Then, if he is as great as we have heard, surely he will touch Jesse and make him well."
There was some discussion of this rather odd idea, but the determination to see their friend healed decided the matter. And the attention of the crowd was so captivated by the words they were hearing that no one noticed the men slowly climbing and pulling their load to the roof of the small house. Neither did anyone seem to be aware that four men were tarring a hole in the roof. So it was just a matter of about half an hour before the friends of Jesse began to lower him down into the house. As it was, he was descending from the roof right in front of Jesus.
Jesus became silent, and the crowd began to murmur, as all eyes took notice of the pallet being slowly lowered from the hole in the roof. Jesus was not looking at the silent Jesse lying on the bed, but up into the faces of his four friends. As the eyes are the window to the soul, Jesus saw the faith in each man; the conviction that what they were doing would not go unrewarded. And he knew they were not seeking reward for themselves, but a blessing for their friend. Jesus was touched both by their faith and their compassion.
Jesus then looked into the face of Jesse and said, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
Now there were some teachers of the law sitting in the front row, and they were shocked to hear Jesus tell the man that his sins are forgive. They were thinking, "Who does this character think he is?! Only God can forgive sins. He commits blasphemy!"
Jesus knew what the haughty Pharisees were thinking, so he spoke directly to them saying, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take up your mat and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on Earth to forgive sins..."
Then Jesus once again looked Jesse right in the eyes and said, "I tell you, get up, take up your mat and go home."
And with that, Jesse stood up, rolled up his pallet, held it in his right hand lying on his right shoulder, and walked toward the door. The crowd, like the Red Sea before Moses, parted and allowed him to pass. His faced beamed with the happiness filling his heart as tears of joy streamed down his face. The eyes of the room followed him while the voices whispered to each other, "Praise the God of wonders. This is amazing! We have never seen anything like this!"
Jesse emerged from the house to the sound of joyful cheers from the crowd and his friends who had jumped off the roof and were running toward him. They hugged and kissed and laughed and cried. And then, singing hymns of praise to God, they set off for home.
May the God of wonders give some amazing blessings and miracles. Praise God! Amen.
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