Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Mark

Mark 
Day 
Day 41

"Redeemed... from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers."

Text: 1 Peter 1:18b

FAITH IN ACTION

Much has been written about the ministry of Jesus. He preached. He taught. He healed. Yes, people came, but many came because of their desperate need for His power to heal them.

The following text was the first glimpse of what Jesus desired to see from the multitudes- faith in action.

“Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic
who was carried by four men.
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.
When Jesus saw their faith…”
MARK 2:3-5A

THE EXERCISE OF FAITH

When Jesus saw such faith in Him, we can imagine how greatly pleased He must have been. The exercise of faith on the part of the four friends of the paralytic was exemplary.

1. Faith courageously faces all odds

The odds were against the chance of bringing the paralytic to see Jesus! How would they be able to squeeze their way through the huge crowd swirling around, all intent to have Jesus heal their family members or friends? However, faith enabled the four friends to courageously face all odds. The four friends refused to be discouraged when they could not bring their paralytic friend to see Jesus because of the crowds.

2. Faith creatively finds an answer

Faith has another aspect that was evident in this story. The faith of the four men saw them come up with a bold plan! They would take down the roof of the house. They would lower their friend to see Jesus. Of course they would pay for all the repairs that need to be done later! Their faith was a delight to behold!

3. Faith conquers all odds

The faith of the four friends stood out to Jesus! Their faith in Jesus did not need a verbal expression. The other forms of expression were just as powerful. They had faced all odds, and they had triumphed! They succeeded in bringing their paralytic friend to Jesus! With their hearts they believed that Jesus could heal their paralytic friend.

4. Faith commended

Others might have been disturbed by this unconventional way of bringing someone to Jesus. They might not have appreciated the idea of destroying a roof. But Jesus saw beyond all objections to a faith that was exemplary!