Who Were Those Guys?

It is one of the most famous stories in the Bible. It is found in Mark 2 and also in Luke 5. A paralytic is healed by Jesus. But the most interesting thing is that he was carried on his cot by four friends. They could not even get to the door to get in. So the friends took him up on the roof, made a hole, and let him down in front of Jesus.

There are so many great lessons here, but I am always really curious about the four men who carried the cot. Were they friends of the paralytic? And even though we are not told, I wonder about their backstory. I wonder if there is a lesson for me today from these four men. After all, there are so many in our world who are broken by sin. They need someone to get them to Jesus for healing.

So I wonder… 

Was one of those men a prayer warrior? Did he spend his time asking God to send him people that needed Jesus? Did he ask to have eyes to see the hurting? And did he see the paralytic as an answer to that prayer? Am I willing to pray that prayer? Do I look for the answers to that prayer as I go through life? Do I act in response to that prayer?

Was one of those men a relentless inviter? Would you like to see Jesus tonight? Would you like to be healed? Let me help. Am I a relentless inviter into the Jesus life? Would you like to come to church with me? Would you like to come to our Christmas Eve service? Would you like to know more about Jesus? Would you like to go to lunch and talk about Jesus stories?

Was one of them a worker? The kind of person who makes a Kingdom difference by what they do? Did he see some men picking up the cot and just joined right in? Was he willing to do whatever was needed to get someone to Jesus? Am I a willing worker for the Kingdom of God? Will I share meals? Give rides? Greet at worship services? Serve those in need? Do what it takes to smooth the road to Jesus?

Maybe one of them was a teacher. Can I tell you about what is happening here? Jesus is the Son of God. He can heal you. He can forgive sins. Wouldn’t you like to get close to him? Can I tell you what he has done for me? Do I talk to hurting people about Jesus? Do I tell people about the Savior? Do you want forgiveness? Here is what Jesus has done for me.

A prayer. An inviter. A worker. A teacher. Well, obviously I don’t really know. But thinking through this has encouraged me to want to be like these men. Because there are still hurting and broken people who need Jesus. People who need the message of forgiveness.

Let’s get people to Jesus.