all eyes on jesus | Exceeding expectations

As we move through Mark's gospel we see Jesus through the eyes of bold friends whose expectations were exceeded.

[The people gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and [Jesus] preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 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.” [Then] he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Mark 2:2-12, NIV (condensed)

Here we encounter a touching and powerful story of faith, healing, and the impact of friends who believe in the miraculous power of Jesus.

The narrative unfolds with a paralysed man carried by four determined friends seeking Jesus' healing touch for him. Facing a packed house they are undeterred by the impossibility of reaching Jesus through conventional means so climb onto the roof, make an opening, and lower the man down to Jesus.

This act of persistence and faith is a testament to the conviction these friends had in the power of Jesus. They believed that Jesus could bring healing to their friend, and this belief motivated them to go to great lengths to ensure he encountered the Saviour.

What did these men see in Jesus that fuelled such unwavering faith? They saw not only a healer of physical ailments but also a compassionate redeemer. Jesus, perceiving their faith, addressed the paralysed man not with immediate physical healing but with an unexpected proclamation: "Son, your sins are forgiven." Jesus made the connection between our physical and spiritual well-being. By forgiving sins he demonstrated his power to bring holistic healing - body, mind, soul and spirit - revealing his authority to bring renewal wherever it is needed.

Jesus exceeded the friends’ expectations. How is he challenging ours? The friends of the paralysed man inspire us to persevere in bringing ourselves and others before Jesus, trusting that he can bring complete healing and restoration to every aspect of our lives.

Let's pray
Lord Jesus, I believe in your miraculous power to forgive sins, heal wounds, restore our bodies and bring about profound transformation in all our lives. Help me be bold and full of faith as you exceed every expectation I have of you today. Amen.