We Bring People To Jesus
Four men of faith who went to great lengths to get help for a friend in need
Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.
Mark 2:4
This scene provides a picture of intercession: We bring people to Jesus.
Mark tells the story that Jesus had returned to a particular town and was at a home. When word got around, a crowd began to gather and became so large that there was no more room, even outside for the people.
As Jesus was speaking, five men arrive. One was paralyzed and was being carried on a mat by the four. Since Jesus was closely surrounded by the people, they were unable to get near enough.
If they could just get this man to Jesus, they believed, surely he could heal him. Determined to help their friend, they took him to the rooftop, and, tearing through the tiles, they made a opening large enough for the paralyzed man’s mat to be lowered.
These four men were:
motivated—by need
dedicated—to getting help
compassionate—for their friend
resourceful—getting to Jesus.
They also believed, and they acted on that belief.
These four men, undeterred, got this man to Jesus, which is intercession: going to Jesus for someone else. Or, in this case, they were bringing someone to him, because we are helpless and only Jesus can do what Jesus can do.
And he saw their faith. It was faith—-their belief, that Jesus responded to.
It was a kindness of them to carry him, and a picture for us to be as compassionate for those near us in distress. They may not be able or willing to reach Jesus on their own.
That is where we come in.
We carry them by prayer.
Get this: it doesn’t require dismantling rooftops, but going into our closet.
In Matthew 8, we read about a centurion who came and pleaded with Jesus. “Lord, he said, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony” (v 6).
“I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied.
The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.
Matthew 8:7-13
Faith, and recognition of authority, of who was worthy and who was not. On behalf of someone else.
And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.”
But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
The woman came and knelt before Him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
“Yes, Lord,” she said, “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
“O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Matthew 15:22-28
Again one comes to Jesus presenting the case of another. Again, he responds to faith.
Such a short petition! Lord, help me! she cries. And what more was needed than that? Acknowledgement of his sovereignty , declaration of her dependence, and plea for mercy and aid which only Jesus can provide.
I'll admit sometimes I still wish I knew what to say
And I keep looking for a way to fix it all
But we know we're at the mercy of God's higher ways
And our ways are so small
But I will carry you to Jesus
He is everything you need
I will carry you to Jesus on my knees
Carry You To Jesus—Steven Curtis Chapman
Even though we’ve given them what we have, we still know the best thing we can do is just pray—bring them to Jesus, carrying them like those four men, by praying.
Until Monday, grace and peace…
Photo by Jaël Vallée on Unsplash