Luke 5:17–19
One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
Scripture Insights
The story of the paralyzed man’s friends in today’s scripture is an excellent ex ample of determined faith and its impact on overcoming physical and spiritual
obstacles. Picture the scene: a wall-to-wall crowd in the house where Jesus is teaching. There are Pharisees, teachers of the law, and others from all over the region checking out the new teacher.
Entering from the center of the roof are the stars of our story: the paralyzed man and his friends. These are not fair-weather friends; they are real friends who help you get to Jesus. Because of their deep love and unwavering faith, they will not be deterred from bringing their friend to Jesus. No obstacle will stand in their way, so they don’t give up when they discover the crowd. Instead, they get creative and look up. Climbing onto the roof with their friend in hand, they lower him, front and center, to Jesus.
They would not be stopped, and they went to the extreme. Jesus sees that kind of faith and rewards it. Not only did Jesus forgive their friend’s sins (v.20), but he also healed him of his paralysis (vv. 24–25), showcasing his divine authority and compassionate love.
Today’s Prayer
Lord, thank you for the example of the paralyzed man’s friends who demonstrated such unwavering faith and determination. Open our eyes to see the obstacles hindering the faith of those around us. May our actions draw them to you and demonstrate your love and power in their lives.
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—James Heyward
Lead Pastor, Salem Fields Church (Virginia)
