Who is carrying you?

Wherever Jesus went great crowds followed him.  Some came to hear him preach, some to be healed and some just because they wanted to see what all the fuss was about.  One day, in Capernaum, four men brought a man who could not walk to see Jesus.  But, the crowd was so large around Jesus, both inside the house and out, that the men could not get through.  So they went on the roof of the house and lowered the man down right in front of Jesus.  In so doing, the four friends could be sure of two things: 1) their friend would get to see and be healed by Jesus and 2) they would not.  But their efforts weren’t in vain for, as Mark tells us, “Jesus saw their faith” and because of it the man was healed.

The four friends “carried” the paralyzed man—both literally and spiritually--sacrificing their needs and wants so that his might be met.  This is true friendship.  But there is a truer friend in the story of the paralyzed man and it is Jesus himself.  "Your sins are forgiven." he says, a claim that could only be made in light of his own sacrficial death and resurrection.  True friends carry one another but it is because Jesus carries us all.

Who is carrying you? Is there someone who has been especially helpful and or encouraging during this time of “giving up?” How might sharing your struggles ease the difficulty of going without? And who are you carrying? How have you helped someone give up? How might you help someone this week?

 “No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends.”  John 15:12