“And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.”
Mark 8:22
ESV
Imagine for a moment that you have a dear friend who is suffering from an illness that not only impedes their ability to function in everyday life, but this illness also carries a weight in society that causes others to treat them as an outcast. What would you be willing to do to help this person become well and accepted again? If you knew that there was only one doctor out there who could completely cure this friend, to what lengths would you go to make sure that doctor treated your friend? There are two particular instances in the Bible where we see the incredible lengths that friends have gone to, to make sure that their friends who were in need of healing, were touched by Jesus and received their healing.
“And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”
Mark 8:22-26
“And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.”
Luke 5:18&19
In both of these instances, we have a person in need of healing, and friends who are willing to go to great lengths to bring these people to Jesus. The faith of these friends provides the opportunity for those who need Jesus to be brought near to Him. I love the picture of the friends who are both willing to bring themselves low by begging Jesus, and those willing to risk severe consequences by breaking through someone’s roof to see their friend healed! The faith of the friends created the opportunity and broke down barriers to bring their friends to Jesus! How far would you be willing to go to bring your friends to Jesus? Not just those who need physical healing, but also those who still don’t know him. Would you be willing to embarrass yourself and do things that are socially unacceptable? Would you be willing to face any consequence, if it meant that your friend had a chance to meet Jesus?
My Prayer For You
Father, I thank you for the faith of our friends. I ask, Lord that you would give us the faith and boldness necessary to bring our friends to you for healing, both physically and spiritually. Help us to bring them to you in prayer and beg you for their salvation. Help us to break down any barrier, no matter what the consequence in order to bring them to you. Amen.
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