四位好友
馬可福音二章1至12節
1過了些日子，耶穌又進了迦百農。人聽見他在房子裡，
2就有許多人聚集，甚至連門前都沒有空地；耶穌就對他們講道。
3有人帶著一個癱子來見耶穌，是用四個人抬來的；
4因為人多，不得近前，就把耶穌所在的房子，拆了房頂，既拆通了，就把癱子連所躺臥的褥子都縋下來。
5耶穌見他們的信心，就對癱子說：小子，你的罪赦了。
6有幾個文士坐在那裡，心裡議論，說：
7這個人為甚麼這樣說呢？他說僭妄的話了。除了神以外，誰能赦罪呢？
8耶穌心中知道他們心裡這樣議論，就說：你們心裡為甚麼這樣議論呢？
9或對癱子說你的罪赦了，或說起來！拿你的褥子行走；那一樣容易呢？
10但要叫你們知道，人子在地上有赦罪的權柄。就對癱子說：
11我吩咐你，起來！拿你的褥子回家去罷。
12那人就起來，立刻拿著褥子，當眾人面前出去了，以致眾人都驚奇，歸榮耀與神，說：我們從來沒有見過這樣的事！
信息分享
我們讀這故事的時候，一定會想知道更多的細節。究竟是誰提議用擔架床把那名癱子送到耶穌面前？當他們看見屋內擠滿了人，究竟是誰建議說：「讓我們把他抬到屋頂」？他們從哪裡找來麻繩，把癱子連同整張擔架床縋到耶穌面前？那幾位朋友看見癱子得醫治後，有甚麼反應？他們有沒有把拆破的屋頂修理好？那名癱子有沒有感謝他的朋友？
那四位朋友的信心當然叫耶穌大為感動。祂不單沒有因為他們的打擾而不快，反而被他們的信心和熱心所感動。祂看見癱子從屋頂縋下，便非常樂意地做了兩件事。首先，祂對那人說，他的罪被赦免了。接著，祂便吩咐他起來行走。那人依從耶穌的話去做，立即就得醫治了！
我們可以從這個故事學到甚麼功課呢？我們怎樣才能引領朋友或鄰居來到基督的面前？我們必須像那四位朋友一樣，要有熱心、愛心、信心和決心，才能親自帶領朋友來到基督的面前，讓他們直接認識基督，得著祂的赦免和醫治。
我們有沒有這顆熱心呢？我們有沒有在禱告中，記念那些未得救的朋友呢？我們有沒有主動邀請或幫助他們來到基督面前呢？我們是否該集合幾位信徒的力量，以致能發揮更大果效呢？故事中的癱子，他的最大需要其實是要基督為他解除罪的束縛；我們的朋友又何嘗沒有這個需要呢？
禱告：
「主啊，求你賜我一顆愛人的心，讓我懂得引領我的朋友來到你的面前。」
WHEN FOUR MEN BROUGHT THEIR FRIEND TO CHRIST
Mark 2: 1 - 12
1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.
2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.
4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?
9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?
10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic,
11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Message
We would love to know more details about it all. Who suggested this stretcher bearing? When they got to the house, who said, 'Let's go up to the roof'? Where did they find ropes to help them lower the sick man down in front of Christ? What did the friends do afterwards? Was the sick man very grateful for all that they did? Did they put the roof back afterwards?
The faith of the four men certainly spoke to Jesus. He seemed thrilled with the whole situation, rather than being bothered by the interruption. He gladly did two things. First he said that the man's sins were forgiven. Then he told him to get up and walk. The man did so and was healed immediately!
Is there any lesson for us here today? What will it take to bring some of our neighbours and friends to Christ? It may take our active friendship. Just like those four men long ago, our friends may need us to bring them face to face with Jesus Christ. Are we prepared to do it?
Who is there that you are praying for that they might be saved? As their friend, do you need to take one step more and help them find Christ? What bridge of friendship could you build that might begin the process of bringing them to him? Could you ask God today to help you be a true friend to your friends and bring them to Christ? This man's greatest need was spiritual. It is the same for your friends.
A PRAYER:
'Lead me to some soul today
O teach me, Lord, just what to say.'