LEAN ON ME

READ: Mark 2:1-12

ANSWER THIS: Who do you consider your best friends, and why?

THE BREAKDOWN

Jesus returns to Capernaum (pronounced kuh-PERR-nee-uhm), following several days of teaching and healing, and word gets out he’s back in town. Soon, the house where he’s staying is packed with people wanting to hear him preach. Some are there hoping to be healed. There were so many people, the crowd spills out the front door of the house. No one can get in at this point. Or, so it seemed.

Some men, hoping for a miracle, bring their paralyzed friend to see Jesus. When the men arrive, they discover they can’t get in through the front door, so they climb on top of the roof and dig a hole directly above where Jesus is standing. Then, they lower their friend down on a mat, right in front of him. Jesus acknowledges their faith, and says to their paralyzed friend, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

Wait, what? He came to be healed, not forgiven.

Jesus had an agenda this day. He’d already demonstrated his ability to perform miracles. Now, he was going to make an extraordinary statement. Only one person could forgive sins, and that was God. So, by forgiving a man’s sins, Jesus was putting himself on equal terms with God. That was heresy to some and healing to others.

Before anyone could say what was on their minds, Jesus turns to the paralyzed man and tells him to pick up his mat and go.

Not only does the man get up, he actually jumps up! After all, he’d just been healed. Both physically and spiritually.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Bill Withers’ song, “Lean on Me,” is #208 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. Maybe that’s because its lyrics are so universal. After all, who doesn’t want a friend to lean on?

Lean on me/
When you're not strong/
I'll be your friend/
I'll help you carry on/
For it won't be long/
'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on/

In the case of the paralytic’s friends, though, there was no expectation that he could ever be that person they could “lean on.” Paralytics were shunned by society and didn’t have the opportunities they have today. His friends were truly selfless, not expecting anything in return.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ME?

The paralytic’s friends cared so much for him, they took him to Jesus. Do you love your friends that much? They need the healing and forgiveness Jesus has to offer just as much as you do.

PRAYER

“Father, I need your healing and forgiveness. So do my friends. Give me the boldness and sensitivity to share what I’m learning about Jesus with them.”