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The Tenacity of They

And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

Mark 2:5
The Tenacity of They Book Cover

the tenacity of they

Read the words of Mark 2:1–5 in your Bible. Put your finger on or circle the word “they,” every time you see it. How many times did you read the word in this short passage? How did “they” interact in the description of the passage? Did you notice that they never uttered a word? Yet, this “They” move the action of the passage along; bringing, removing, letting down.

The nameless, anonymous They of this passage demonstrated such a love for their paralyzed friend that Jesus himself was moved.

The beauty in this passage is captured by Jesus’ response: Jesus saw their faith, then forgave, and then healed, their friend. It wasn’t just their arms that hoisted the friend’s limp weight, cracked the ceiling, and gently lowered him down; it was their belief that Jesus could touch their friend. That belief carried him when he was without the strength to do it on his own. These friends were not bothered with the crowds; they were laser-focused on getting their friend in front of Jesus. This type of diligence and determination is how we should all be pursuing friendships—part of loving well means laying our friends’ lives before Jesus.

Yesterday, we considered the example of the ants, and how we, like them, should move toward the goal of Jesus, and encourage our friends to do the same.

But what if we can’t move?

Each of us will face situations that paralyze us with fear, grief, and doubt. Bankruptcy. Abuse. The death of a child. An unexpected career change. A breakup. Depression. When these paralyzing circumstances catch up to us in this fallen world, we can despair. We sometimes give up on talking to God at all, much less asking him to intervene.

The ministry of They is most potent when we’re paralyzed. Like the freshman girl caught in the storm in Day 2, our friends can intercede for us through prayer and faith when we lack the strength to do it on our own. This faith of friends is a gift of the Spirit that benefits the people of God (1 Corinthians 12:7, 9). We can lean on godly friends during those times when we cannot stand. And sister, it’s okay to lean on friends when those times come.

When our friend is paralyzed, we get to trade places in encouragement. We get to lower our friend’s circumstances in front of the Savior and beg him to act on her behalf. In the ebb and flow of life, sometimes we lean and sometimes we carry. Intercession—talking to God about bringing healing to your friend—is a powerful and intimate opportunity to care, selflessly. The burden on our hearts may be substantial, but so are the rewards. As we engage in the ministry of They, we get to lighten the load on our friends. But not only that; sometimes, like the nameless They of Mark 2, we get to be firsthand witnesses to God’s breakthrough response. The privilege of witnessing the awesome power of the will of God being done on earth as it is in heaven, right in front of us? It’s holy. It’s transformative. It’s worth it.

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Daily Question

Recall a time where a friend brought you before Christ. Spend time in prayer thanking God for that friend.

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Comments (6)

Just last night a friend text a picture of a saying we have all heard “grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change… courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference”. It was such and encouraging reminder and yet so simple. I instantly thanked God for this time at home with my kids and to be more grateful for the little moments.

Our community group often will ask for what is on our heart and how to pray for me and my husband. It is a blessing of peace and true understanding to have mentors and friends who have been where we are in our season of life, who can speak into our life and pray for us in such a way.

In one of my lowest moments, I had a friend who reminded me about God’s plan and to have the faith and trust although the road seems tough, there is a blessing behind ever struggle we go through.

I had been dating a Christian man before I had accepted Christ & every morning he would get up & spend time in the Bible. Later in our relationship, he had decided to end it & I was devastated. Before this he had given me a bible. I started reading it not knowing anything about a relationship with Christ. But it was because of this, I ended up going to Saddleback, searching for something more in my life because once again I was alone. I ended up accepting Christ.

I was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household and had no knowledge of Jesus before I was 13 years old At that time my father had died and my mother moved us (Mom, me, and my brother and sister) to a new neighborhood where she would have support from her parents who would be neighbors. The girls in the neighborhood befriended me, and invited me to join them for their youth fellowship meetings at their church, just up the street I went, and before long I learned about Christianity, Jesus, and how wonderful this fellowship would be. I joined, and have worshipped as a Christian ever since. That was 57 years ago, and I am still close friends with those women, and many of the parishioners of that small Methodist church.

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