Do circumstances render us invisible? I think for some, it may be true.
What Happened
The Scriptures tell us about a day when Jesus went to dinner in a home. Of course, it wasn’t long before a crowd gathered around this abode. So many people pressed in to hear Jesus and see miracles that when four men brought their paralyzed friend for healing, they could not even get close.
These four guys were pretty ingenious. They crawled on top of the house – yes, with their paralyzed friend on a pallet – and began to systematically disassemble the roof. (I’ll bet they were roofers by profession!) They intended to lower their friend down to Jesus through the floor.
It worked.
Jesus “saw their faith.” He told the paralytic that his sins were forgiven. This caused a controversy with the religious leaders there. After all, only God can forgive sins. Then Jesus told the paralytic to pick up his bed and go his way to his own house. He did. All were amazed who watched him go.
I imagine the crowd parted and he walked right out the middle of them trailing his bundle of bedding.
What Might Have Happened
I can’t help it. My imagination ran away with this tale. Whenever I have read this story, I always thought this was a poor begger that these men had taken pity on. But who would go through all that trouble for somebody on the corner that they don’t know?
No, I think this was a group of guys who were probably childhood buddies. Maybe they hid in the desert caves while they played Roman Soldier, or pirate in the lake while their fathers were fishing. After all, this story happened by the Galilee Sea.
What if, one day, these guys dared each other to do some daring deed? Maybe a dive off the cliffs?
“You jump, Jude.”
“Nah-uh, not me. Go ahead, James.”
James backed away, shaking his head.
Abe held up his hands, indicating he wanted no part of this scheme.
“Then you, Simon.”
As Simon opened his mouth for a nay, a splash interrupted him.
The boys all scrambled down the rocks to the water. And waited. And waited.
Then they all ran into the water to look for Ezra. They dragged him out of the sea and worked to revive him. He choked, but could not move. They turned him so water would drain.
Can you feel the horror the boys must have felt as their friend could not get up?
What Then?
I wonder that while Ezra was forced to adjust to living a life on a pallet, helplessly dependent, maybe the other guys went on with their lives. Maybe they learned to roof homes along the way. But I’ll bet that all of them spent as much time with their buddy, Ezra, as they could.
When Jesus, the Healer, came to town—this was their chance to help their friend. Of course Jesus would heal Him. Why would He not? So they made plans to get Ezra to Jesus. Undaunted by the crowds, they came up with a plan and made it work.
When Ezra walked out with his pallet, imagine the back slapping that must have occurred. What joy!
I wonder how life changed for all of them after that.
Being Known
These guys went to great lengths to seek healing for their friend.
Would we do the same?
“’But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins,’ He said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go your way to your house’” Mark 2:10.
You pulled me into the heart of that story, Linda Jo, and it will not let me go. I feel so much more for all the characters now, a mix of emotions. I think of those I’ve known who’ve experienced catastrophic injury. Most of all, I think of the loyalty and love and lengths friendship goes to. And then I think of Jesus calling us friends. Wow.
For sure – I could just see those guys together! It’s a great picture for me, too. I suspect most of us have such buddies that we love and strive to care for.