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Editors note: These devotionals are taken from the PS archives and are based on the time I spent with the Lord in His Word. I wanted to share them with you this summer of 2005 from the Gospel of Mark! Revisions have been made!

"A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (Mark 2:1-5)

Observations:

It is so awesome that when Jesus stepped foot in Capernaum, the news already spread like wildfire about Jesus coming home. The people heard where Jesus was staying and gathered there that there was no room left for anyone else to come in, not even outside the door.

Observations/Interpretations:

It was the loving presence and power of Jesus that drew people to Jesus. Everyone wanted to see Jesus but not everyone could find the space to see Jesus. After the people gathered, Jesus could have done many things but takes it as a witnessing opportunity to preach the Word to them. It is very interesting that Jesus would spend time right away preaching the Word right after He comes home emphasizing the importance of the Word and God's laws. Everyone there could have seen Jesus as their friend and Jesus did not want to disappoint but give them the Good News.

Engaging in ministry to reach the souls of the people gathered there did not however stop Jesus from meeting people's needs. This is evidenced by what eventually happened while Jesus preached the Word to the crowds.

I asked myself what was happening as Jesus preached the Word to the crowds!

Some men came bringing to him a paralytic.
The paralytic was carried by four of them.
They made an opening in the roof above Jesus.
They dug through it.
They lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.

Observations/Interpretations

Point 1: Some men came bringing to him a paralytic.

It is interesting to know that while Jesus was preaching the Word to the crowds some men came bringing to Him a paralytic. So many gathered that there was no room left, even outside the door for the paralytic to reach Jesus. So the men devised a plan to help the paralytic.

Point 2: The paralytic was carried by four of them.

I believe even as they held the paralytic, they did not let the obstacles stop them from reaching Jesus. So they came up with a blueprint of getting where they needed to be.

Point 3: They made an opening in the roof above Jesus.

The first step, they took was making an opening in the roof above Jesus. This is so significant because first of all it is not their house. They came probably to Simon and Andrew’s house and started making an opening in the roof for the sake of the paralytic.

Imagine you are in a packed room and there is no space for anyone else to come in. Now imagine listening to Jesus preaching the Word to you and then suddenly there is a commotion. You believe it to be coming from the roof. (We need to realize roofs were not the same as we now have in cities.) Something else happens!

Point 4: They dug through it.

You look up and to your amazement see four people digging through the roof, making dust fill the room, and making an opening. To your bafflement you see a paralytic on a stretcher being lowered down. Most of the roof started to crumble down as onlookers looked ahead. Now there is a huge rectangular hole that is visible. Into that hole, we see something come through.

Point 5: They lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.

Now after all the work they went through, they lower the paralytic so Jesus can see him and heal him in front of the crowds. That was a bold step they took.

Observations:

I asked myself how Jesus reacted to the situation!

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (Mark 2:5)

We see a cause-effect relationship here!

Because Jesus saw their faith, the result was Jesus spoke to the paralytic with these words, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

This is so significant because Jesus intervened after the intercession of the paralytics’ friends. Because of their faith, Jesus decided to speak to the paralytic.

All I can think about is how much agape love they must have had for their friend. They knew that Jesus could heal their friend and they were going to get to Jesus no matter what obstacles they were facing even if it meant facing ridicule as they tried to get through the roof. It was a mighty risk to have taken for their friend just so he could be taken to Jesus for healing.

Implications:

I saw this passage as an example of what true friendship could look like. If I say that I am somebody’s friend, I should put myself in a position to be there for them no matter what the obstacles. That is what the four men did for their friend and it paid of. Sadly, I have not always been that kind of friend and the Lord has brought it to my attention as I studied this passage! I depend on the Lord Jesus Christ to change with His Helping Hands.

I ask you now dear friend, what kind of friend are you?

Dear friend, I do not know about you but it makes me so happy to realize that there are friends out there that do not mind risking their own lives for their friends. They do not let obstacles, inconveniences, or hindrances stop them from helping their friends. I would like to be that type of friend to other people.

Don’t you want that? When you call someone your friend, I hope you do not let obstacles, inconveniences; hindrances, danger, etc stop you from reaching out to that friend who may need help in anything. I hope I can be that type of friend.

I want to share with you the example of 4 friends who made such an impact in my life few years ago. I am proud to call them friends! They are not the only ones that have affected by life in a positive way but this situation became special for me.

At one point, I had such a bad semester because everything that could possibly go wrong at once seemed to go wrong. I had to move and was doing it on my own because I did not want to bother anyone for help. I would take trips in the bus from Shadyside to Squirrel Hill or walk. I knew my friends were really busy with their classes and decided not to bother them.

I had gone to Bible study every Monday night without missing it. One Monday, I missed it and my small group was concerned. They knew I must be overwhelmed with all the moving I was doing. As I was making my multiple trips back from Squirrel Hill to Shadyside, on one trip, I was shocked to see some of the students from the small group one-by-one.

I did not recall ever telling them where I lived but they were on a mission and they found out. They were hiding to surprise me. They cancelled the Bible study just so they could come help me. I still cannot believe it even to this day. I call them the 4 musketeers (Sara Witmer (now Sara Schuster), Jonathan Morton, David Black, and Joshua Steck). I do believe with the help of the 5th musketeer, Becky McMullen (now Becky Posh), roommate of Sara they figured out where I lived.

I feel embarrassed to write this part because my apartment was like it was ransacked and a cyclone whirled everything out of place. You needed to be a track-field athlete figuratively to jump from one place to another because there was stuff everywhere. They asked me how they could help but I did not know where to start so I told them I really appreciate their help but they should go back to campus. They were not going to leave until my apartment was clean and I had a way to move all the stuff.

Sara decided that she could go back to campus and bring boxes but we found some in the storage. They took all the initiative, cleaned, and packed all my stuff for almost 3 hours that night even when they had school work for the next day.

My roommate had moved most of his stuff out. When my four friends left, my roommate who was not a Christian came to me and said, "It was really nice of your friends to help you like that". He wanted to know how I got to know them. I told him that they were from 'InterVarsity Christian Fellowship' of the Pitt chapter.

His reaction was, "No wonder, they seemed really nice and helpful" My friends had left an imprint of their Christian faith with my Chinese roommate.

The next day Josh asked his brother if he could bring his truck, even though he lived outside of Pittsburgh. This was so Josh and David could help me move all my stuff to Squirrel Hill, when his brother came.

Josh even sacrificed his class that day because he knew I had to be at work and they took two trips to help me move and then unload the stuff in Squirrel Hill. In all my life, I have not ever had friends like that. They made a Mission Impossible situation possible.

I am still honored to have known them as friends *hugs*.

At that time, Sara served as President of InterVarsity, worship coordinator, prayer coordinator, outreach coordinator, and small group leader.

At that time, Jonathan served as Vice-President of InterVarsity, Large-group coordinator, and Administrative coordinator.

Joshua served on the Worship Team.

David served as small group leader, publicity coordinator, and Business Manager.

Becky had served as Vice-President before Jonathan took over.

Sometimes what our friends do for us can be a big deal depending on our need! I hope your friends can count on you for help when they need it. If you call yourself a friend of someone, I hope you can be there to help them no matter the inconvenience just as the four friends helped the paralytic and students from InterVarsity graciously offered unexpected help to me.

I do not know many of you personally but I want to offer my help in any area of your life that you need if I am capable. Please do not hesitate to ask if you need help in anything.

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is still very active at Carnegie Mellon University and they meet on Tuesday nights if anyone is interested in going. There is also a Pitt chapter that meets on campus. Please email me if you are interested and I will get you in touch with their leaders.

Friends don’t always have to be outsiders. Our best friends can literally be within our own household. I know for me my mommy is my best friend at home.

Regardless of home life, etc we all can have a Friend who no earthly friend can even come close to. He loves you as you are and wants to reach out to you where you are. His Name is Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus cared for the paralytic, He cares for you too. Yes, He does friend! You can come to Him as you are and receive His help. Jesus helps in many ways.

May you turn to the Lord who wants to be your best Friend everyday! Amen! He will reach you in your deepest needs.

Friends Reach Instantly, Encouraging Never-ending Daily Service! (F.R.I.E.N.D.S)

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that you are the greatest friend we can have. Your love for us is unconditional. Thank you for the friends you do send our path to put a smile on our face. Thank you how much you care for us. Thank you for your Word and how it changes people's lives. Thank you Lord that we can follow your example. Please Lord help us to be faithful to you and seek you always. Please help us to lay down our lives for our friends and be there to help them. Thank you so much Lord Jesus. Thank you for the small group you had blessed me to be part of. We lift our lives to you and ask you to take care of us. Thank you so much Jesus! Thank you that you want to be our Best friend. We are sorry for our sins and turn our lives to thee. Come Lord Jesus and fill us with your presence in our hearts today. Make our heart your home and preach to us Jesus. Please work in our lives. We thank you for covering us with your precious Blood to atone for our sin. Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

P.S.. If you need someone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible, you can email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com and we can set up a time that is convenient for you! You can also call me at 412-720-4579