May 6, 2020
Mark 2:4-5
Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
New International Version (NIV)
Friends find a way.  Our popular music reminds us of the importance of friendship.  Who can forget James Taylor singing, “You’ve got a friend,” or the Toy Story update by Randy Newman, “You’ve got a friend in me.”  The Genie in Aladdin sang, “You ain’t never had a friend like me.”  How do we know who our friends are?  They are the ones who find a way to help us find our way.

Jesus came back to Capernaum, his center of operations for his early ministry.  By now, Mark tells us his fame had grown to the point that he spoke to “standing room only” crowds.  People wanted to get to Jesus but the crowd kept them away.  So four friends carried their friend up on the roof.  They dug through the roof and lowered the man right in front of Jesus.  Imagine if you were in the room listening to Jesus and dirt started to fall from the ceiling.  Then there was a glimmer of daylight.  Suddenly a man was being lowered down.  What a surprise!

Even more surprising was Jesus’ response to the man.  “Your sins are forgiven.”  Excuse me, but, “What?”  I wonder what his friends expected.  Were they surprised that Jesus didn’t heal him immediately?  They had heard about the leper Jesus had healed.  The religious leaders expressed their shock at Jesus’ audacity to pronounce the man forgiven.  Jesus asked, “Is it harder to forgive or to heal?”  Then he healed the man to validate the forgiveness he had pronounced. 

After that day, do we suppose the man ever doubted whether the others were his friends?  Even greater, he realized he had found the best friend of all in Jesus who forgave him and healed him.  Friends find a way!  I pray that you have friends who care enough about you to bring you into the presence of Jesus for forgiveness and healing.  Even more, I pray that we are those kinds of friends.  Find a way today to help someone find the Way today.  His name is Jesus.
Pray with me:         
Father, how we thank you for friends who point us toward you.  God give us audacious friends who will not give up when they encounter an obstacle.  We ask this day that you would remove every barrier in our lives that keeps us from coming directly into your presence now.  We need your healing touch.  But even more we need forgiveness.  Give us the grace to leave the burden of our sin behind and to walk closely with you for the rest of our lives.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 
Join us in memorizing the Word.  Scripture for this week:    
Matthew 5:38-39
You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan.  Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG 
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week.  In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year.  Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.  
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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