If you were
to define the word ‘friendship,’ what would you say?
A dictionary
definition would probably fall far short of what we know ‘friendship’ to be.
More than merely a word, acquaintance, or association, true friendship implies
a concern equal to the concern you have for yourself.
The Bible
has much to teach us concerning friendship and brotherhood and what it means to
us to be a friend or a brother or sister to someone.
Here in Luke
5, we see what friendship does.
We are told
of a man who has probably recently been paralyzed, perhaps in some sort of
accident, or as the result of disease. This man, unnamed, has some really great
friends. They have supported him and helped him through the tragedy of his
present condition. There is no hope, save for Jesus.
If only we
could all see our friends in this way. There is no hope for them save for
Jesus. Paralysis is the true condition of all who are separated from Christ.
They can do nothing to affect their salvation. They are immobilized and
desperate, and there is nothing they can do for themselves.
Fortunately
for this paralyzed brother, he has a group of friends who will not be dissuaded
by anything or anyone from bringing him to Jesus. Perhaps if he had not been
paralyzed he would not have been brought. Sometimes the very thing which brings
desperation into our lives is the only thing that brings us to Jesus.
Stopped at
the door by the size of the crowd, the friends transport the man to the roof
and dig through the tiles to lower their friend into Jesus’ presence. Jesus
saw their faith.
Truly, whose
faith did Jesus see? Was it the faith of the paralyzed man – or the faith of
his friends?
It is this unstoppable,
immovable expression of faithful friends which leads to salvation and healing for
this paralyzed man. (And I suppose his friends as well.)
Friends
bring their friends to Jesus. It is worth it all, no matter the difficulty
faced.
-Pastor Bill
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