March 31, 2021: True Friends

“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’” (Mark 2:4–5, NIV).

One time, Jesus was preaching at Peter’s house. Four friends were on their way to the house, having faith that Jesus would heal their paralytic friend. But the crowd was so big that they couldn’t reach Jesus. So they climbed up to the roof and ripped it open!

Can you imagine how surprised everyone was seeing a bed come down from the ceiling of the house? When Jesus saw the friends’ faith, He said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Because of his friends’ faith, the paralytic was forgiven!

Wow! What great friends the paralytic had. The friends brought him to Jesus, but the crowd was a barrier. Are we like the friends or the crowd? Do we have that kind of faith and determination to bring people closer to Jesus? I want to be like the paralytic’s friends.

Father God, please help us to bring people to You instead of pushing them away. May we be the kind of friend who encourages others to turn to You for help. Amen.

Jason Kim is a fourth-grader at Vienna Adventist Academy in Virginia.