"He Takes Note!"

Today I would like to take a quick look at Mark 2:1-12  It is the account of Jesus healing the paralytic. It ends with this amazing verse, "And immediately he arose, took up his bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

This event ended with everyone amazed and glorifying God because they had never seen such an amazing miracle before and it all started because of this man's really, really,  really good friends. Check out what they did for him. "And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. And when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." Mark 2:1-5 

They had heard about Jesus and they knew that He was the answer to their friend's paralysis. They knew that if they could get him to Jesus that he could be healed. Then, even when they couldn't get to Jesus because of the crowd they didn't stop! They pursued till they found a way. They took him up onto the roof and made a way to lift him down to where Jesus was! These are some really good friends! Did you catch verse 5? It said, "When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven you.' It was their faith that motivated this whole life changing encounter! Their faith, on behalf of their friend, is the faith that Jesus took note of. Their faith made all the difference!


Don't forget to be the kind of friend that isn't afraid to do what is necessary to lift their friends needs before Jesus! For you and I that means we lift them and their needs up in prayer!

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:15-16

When you take the time to lift up the needs of a friend, in faith, believing ...Jesus sees your faith! He takes note! Remember, Miracles happen when someone's faith believes that with Jesus all things are possible! Who knows maybe you'll be the next one to proclaim, "I never saw anything like this!"