GPS Guide – January 9, 2020

WHAT GOD CAN DO

Thursday

Read: Mark 2:1-5

2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ² They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³ Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. ⁴ 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. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (NIV Mark 2:1-5)

Study: Four friends set out to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus on a stretcher, but found the house packed. So they got creative! Most houses in Palestine then had an outer staircase to the roof. People usually roofed the houses with branches and rushes laid over the roof beams and covered with dried mud. The man’s friends climbed to the roof, dug through (imagine the surprise the people in the house felt when the ceiling began dropping on them!), and laid their friend at Jesus’ feet. The man would have remained paralyzed without his four friends’ energetic, creative caring. They were clearly far more than just casual acquaintances. When was the last time you were able to be a “stretcher bearer” for someone else? Who has been a “stretcher bearer” for you? How determined and creative are you willing to be to bring Christ’s help to someone you know who needs it?

Pray: Lord Jesus, thank you for caring about the well-being of my body and of my inner self. Help me to live each day in the beautiful reality of your forgiving, restoring grace. Amen.