Four Faithful Friends

Mark 2:1-12--“When Jesus saw their faith...”

Reuben lay dozing on his mat in the afternoon heat, generally where one would find him any day or night. Besides the hot, dust-laden breeze, the familiar sounds of village life drifted in through the open doorway: children’s shouts and laughter, a rooster crowing, the braying of a donkey.  Reuben heard but barely heeded.

It had been ten years since the accident. Falling twenty-five feet off a rock-faced cliff while trying to collect birds’ eggs had been the split-second event that changed his life forever.

A mere teenager at the time, Reuben had been with four of his friends, who thought it would be great fun to climb to where falcons had their nests. His companions had teased him a bit about being afraid to mount up to the spot where they could see a very fine hole in the rock with a bird’s nest there. Boys being who they are, from that it turned into a good-natured dare. At that age, who can resist?

Reuben, a sensitive, tentative fifteen-year old, had resolutely swallowed his fear of heights and proceeded to cautiously climb higher.

Then it happened. The rock he was clinging to with his bare toes, gave way and crumbled under him. His hands slipped and he plunged to the ground, narrowly escaping with his life, though his neck was broken and his whole body paralyzed.

This tragedy marked not only Reuben’s life, but his four friends as well. Their genuine sorrow and guilt over having egged him on, provoking his effort that resulted in permanent injury, weighed heavily on them. Consequently, they dealt with their own consciences by assuming his care—each of them taking turns. Their devotion was unswerving and determined, year after long year.

At first, it went well. Reuben was grateful and showed remarkable resilience. Then, as time crept forward, he sank gradually into deep depression and bitterness. Raging and complaining at life, at his family, at his dedicated friends, and ultimately at God, became a seeping wound that affected his mood and outlook. Complications had developed from his inert, prone position and he experienced constant pain.

His friends were not detracted from their mission. They would care for him, all his days, as long as they were able.  Each one became more determined as time went on.

Marcus, the oldest of the group, was in the marketplace one day, when he saw a crowd of people tightly clustered around a Man. His curiosity stirred, Marcus edged closer. With rough, homespun clothing this person looked like any ordinary Jewish man, but there was something about His face. Marcus was mesmerized. Was it His quiet dignity?  No, it was more than that. A look of authority, of contained-power?  Of gentleness, of mercy? Yes, it was all that. But more—it was the countenance of a King, a royal Person, clad in unremarkable garb. He learned from a by-stander that this was Jesus of Nazareth, a carpenter.

The Man was teaching—using common illustrations and stories from the lives, stories, and livelihood of the Jewish people. His words carried force, authority, and spoke straight to one’s heart. Marcus felt something stirring at the deepest level in his own being. For the first time in his life, the strong Jewish foundations he had acquired from the rabbis, took on new meaning. The Torah wasn’t just a book of laws and regulations.  This Jesus made it alive: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind, strength--and thy neighbor as thyself.” He then proceeded to define who our neighbor was:  the downtrodden, the despised--even the Samaritan.

Tears slid, unbidden, down Marcus’ face. Something very deep within had been stirred and changed. The teaching concluded and he turned quickly. “I must tell the others,” he muttered to himself.

Finding his three friends, Marcus gathered them at his home and related the story of his encounter with Jesus. “You must come with me to hear Him. Never a man spoke as this man does!” he urged them.

The four companions, knit closely by their circumstances, made their way to the town square the next day—a Sabbath. They saw Jesus, surrounded by his followers, sitting under an olive tree. Jesus turned and smiled at the four. “Welcome, friends,” he said, cheerfully, and gestured for them to draw near. As the crowd continued to gather, Jesus began to teach. His words about the hypocrisy of Pharisees and religious leaders were strong and painfully direct; but He spoke gently to the common people, warning them to be on their guard against such practices. “The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

The four friends looked at each other and nodded with agreement. This man’s teaching was right on! And he wasn’t afraid to confront the religious hierarchy—this took real courage.  Some of his words made one uncomfortable, as if looking in a mirror and seeing oneself as one truly looked on the inside.  Yet, when Jesus’ dark, brilliant eyes met yours, one felt he accepted you and forgave the penitent, repenting heart.

Marcus and his companions were captivated, unable to tear themselves away.  Nearby, a cluster of Pharisees and scribes stood, their arms folded, at times whispering among themselves. Marcus heard one of them say with a sneer, “I wonder if this man dares to perform one of his so-called miracles on the Sabbath!” Jesus turned and looked directly and sternly at the Pharisee, then deliberately spoke to a man with a withered hand, “Stand up, my friend, and come close. Stretch out your hand!” When he did, his hand became completely normal—exactly as his other hand.

The crowd was delighted and cheers went up on all sides, as once again, Jesus had bested and humiliated the religious gentry.  Marcus turned and grinned at his friends: “Round one—Jesus wins; Religious leaders—zero!” Then, it was as if they all had the same thought, as their eyes widened and they all seemed to speak to each other at once.

“Reuben! We must bring him to Jesus!”

Arriving at Reuben’s home, they found his aged mother bending over him, sponging his face with cool water. “He’s ill – a fever has taken hold of him.” She spoke in terse tones to the men.  “It is indeed the worst I have seen him.”

Reuben, moaning and mumbling incoherently, seemed unaware of his surroundings.  His head, the only appendage he could move, tossed from side to side.

“We must take him to Jesus—now! Marcus said urgently. They carried him on his pallet and headed back to the marketplace. Arriving, they found Jesus and his disciples had gone; but a woman, standing in her doorway, said they had been invited to one of the Pharisee’s homes—“down that street, in front of the synagogue,” she told them.

When they reached the house, they found it filled to overflowing with people, crammed in every corner, hallway, and room, and stretching out into the street. It would be impossible even for a man, alone, to get through the crowd, much less four men carrying a stretcher.

One of the friends pointed to the flat roof-top and the stairs leading to the top along the side of the house.  “Quick!” he said, “We must try that way—Reuben might not last much longer!”

A young boy had followed them up. “Tell us—which room is Jesus in?” Marcus asked. “This main room, right under here,” the lad answered. The men began to dig with some tools the boy brought them. Roofs in Palestine were made of reeds, overspread with mud, or tiles. It wasn’t too difficult to make an opening.

In the room below, Jesus had been preaching, but then people began commenting, as dirt and chunks of dried mud began to fall on them. Soon, they could see the men’s hands, then their determined faces, as they created an opening. The home-owner had begun remonstrating when he saw the action they were taking, but Marcus called down, “Do not worry—we are honorable men, and we will repair the damage!”

Jesus chuckled as he saw what they were about to do, “A fortunate man is this, to have four friends with such faith!” Soon, the pallet began descending, as the men lowered their emaciated, gravely ill companion down to Jesus.

He gazed at the feverish, pain-ridden man, and saw deep into his sin-sick soul—the bitterness, the rage, the resentment against his circumstances. “Son, your sins are forgiven,” Jesus spoke gently.

The teachers of the law, seated nearby, thought to themselves, “Who does this upstart think he is? Only God can forgive sin – he’s a blasphemer!”

Jesus, turning to look at them, said indignantly, “Why are you thinking those thoughts? It is equally easy for me to forgive sin or to make this man walk. And to prove this,” he said to the Pharisees, “and so you’ll know God has given me this authority on earth,” he spoke firmly to Reuben, lying on the mat in front of him, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”

The four friends, crowded around the opening in the roof, held their breath as they watched what would happen. The crowd was absolutely silent. No one said a word. The religious experts sat with narrowed eyes, their arms crossed. Outside in the street, some children were shouting to each other at play. Inside, in the crowded room, with its heat and odor, it seemed the whole universe came to a stand-still.

Then, a split second later, Reuben opened his eyes. The first one he saw was the happy face of Jesus—such a wonderful face— strong, manly, yet filled with love, forgiveness, acceptance, and restoration. The paralytic smiled back, as wellness flooded his body.

Jesus reached down and gave him his hand. Reuben took it and sat up—the first time in ten years. His legs were still shriveled and emaciated, but Jesus pulled him to his feet. Reuben took a tentative step, as the crowd pushed back to make room. He began walking slowly, wobbling a bit at first, in a tight circle. Someone reached out to steady him, as someone else pulled the mat out of the way. Jesus grinned and gave a thumbs-up to the happy, weeping faces above him in the opening.

With excitement, joy, shouts, and applause increasing by the second, the people made way for Reuben to pass through their midst, carrying his mat on his shoulder. Behind him were the discomfited, embarrassed religious leaders, a rejoicing crowd, and a smiling, joyous Jesus.

Ahead of Reuben was a blessed, new, forgiven, restored life and his four, faithful, happy friends with whom to enjoy it.

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How often we need “four friends,” whose faith and steadfastness will carry us in prayer when we are weak, have lost hope, and can’t-see-the-forest-for-the-trees. Perhaps it will take these saints time—praying and believing—to remove the “tiles and roofing materials” of unbelief and dullness to make an opening.

When I can’t take myself to Jesus, this is when I need the Body of Christ—beloved sisters and brothers—to open the roof, lower me into His Presence and watch for miracles. Thank you.