Mk 2:1-12
1When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. 2Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. 3They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” 6Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, 7“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” 8Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”—11he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” 12He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
Four men carried a paralytic to Jesus: What great friends this paralytic has! With the kind of friends he has, I think he does not need healing. That is why maybe Jesus says instead, “Your sins are forgiven.” That Jesus does and can forgive is not a problem for us, unlike the Pharisees. Let us reflect rather on the persistent faith of the four friends of the paralytic.
They do not know the meaning of the word “impossible.” They work together to get their friend through the thick crowd. They find a way, even if it means tearing down the roof. They are not heard of again after playing their role of bringing in their friend. Even God cannot say “No” to such display of courage and friendship. He knows what those words mean. He finds them in his Son who courageously accepts death on the cross for the love of us whom he has called friends.
The idea of friendship is not often reflected on. But we see many stories on friendship in the Bible. It is a relationship even God values. We all want friends in the end. Real, good friends! And we always have one in Jesus.