四位好友
马可福音二章1至12节
1过了些日子，耶稣又进了迦百农。人听见他在房子里，
2就有许多人聚集，甚至连门前都没有空地；耶稣就对他们讲道。
3有人带着一个瘫子来见耶稣，是用四个人擡来的；
4因为人多，不得近前，就把耶稣所在的房子，拆了房顶，既拆通了，就把瘫子连所躺卧的褥子都缒下来。
5耶稣见他们的信心，就对瘫子说：小子，你的罪赦了。
6有几个文士坐在那里，心里议论，说：
7这个人为甚么这样说呢？他说僭妄的话了。除了神以外，谁能赦罪呢？
8耶稣心中知道他们心里这样议论，就说：你们心里为甚么这样议论呢？
9或对瘫子说你的罪赦了，或说起来！拿你的褥子行走；那一样容易呢？
10但要叫你们知道，人子在地上有赦罪的权柄。就对瘫子说：
11我吩咐你，起来！拿你的褥子回家去罢。
12那人就起来，立刻拿着褥子，当众人面前出去了，以致众人都惊奇，归荣耀与神，说：我们从来没有见过这样的事！
信息分享
我们读这故事的时候，一定会想知道更多的细节。究竟是谁提议用担架床把那名瘫子送到耶稣面前？当他们看见屋内挤满了人，究竟是谁建议说：「让我们把他擡到屋顶」？他们从哪里找来麻绳，把瘫子连同整张担架床缒到耶稣面前？那几位朋友看见瘫子得医治后，有甚么反应？他们有没有把拆破的屋顶修理好？那名瘫子有没有感谢他的朋友？
那四位朋友的信心当然叫耶稣大为感动。祂不单没有因为他们的打扰而不快，反而被他们的信心和热心所感动。祂看见瘫子从屋顶缒下，便非常乐意地做了两件事。首先，祂对那人说，他的罪被赦免了。接着，祂便吩咐他起来行走。那人依从耶稣的话去做，立即就得医治了！
我们可以从这个故事学到甚么功课呢？我们怎样才能引领朋友或邻居来到基督的面前？我们必须像那四位朋友一样，要有热心、爱心、信心和决心，才能亲自带领朋友来到基督的面前，让他们直接认识基督，得着祂的赦免和医治。
我们有没有这颗热心呢？我们有没有在祷告中，记念那些未得救的朋友呢？我们有没有主动邀请或帮助他们来到基督面前呢？我们是否该集合几位信徒的力量，以致能发挥更大果效呢？故事中的瘫子，他的最大需要其实是要基督为他解除罪的束缚；我们的朋友又何尝没有这个需要呢？
祷告：
「主啊，求你赐我一颗爱人的心，让我懂得引领我的朋友来到你的面前。」
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.'