Being a friend

Mk 2:1-5

Friends come in all shapes and sizes.  We can do some silly things with friends.  In our younger years friends can really shape who we are going to be later in life.  So the question comes up, what is a friend?  There are many thoughts on this and some are really good like, "A friend makes your life better" or "A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world goes out."  Have we ever consider what the Bible says about friends?  Maybe we should?  When I think of friends I can't help but think of a man named Randy Newman.  You may know him as the man who sings the song that is in the Toy Story movies.  The song is called "You've got a friend in me" and it applies to the text above!

One part of Mr. Newman’s song says, “You've got a friend in me, If you got troubles, I got them too, There isn't anything, I wouldn't do for you

We stick together, we can see it through, Cause you've got a friend in me…”

That tells me that a friend will go through extreme measure for you.   In Mark we read that a large crowd gathered to hear Jesus teach at a home in Capernaum.  It is said that there wasn't even standing room at  the door anymore the crowd was so big.  That being said, four good friends of a paralyzed man decide to fight this crowd to help their friend! Why would they do that? It's simple, a true friend suffers with you 2Co 1:7! The Church is told to be the same way. Rom 12:15  A friend will go through suffering and weeping with you.  The friend who wants nothing to do with your problems is not a friend! Consider what Jesus said Jn 15:13  As a Christian, are you being that kind of friend?

Mr. Newman’s song also says, “Some other folks might be A little bit smarter than I am, Bigger and stronger too, Maybe, But none of them will ever love you, The way I do, it's me and you.  Boy, and as the years go by, Our friendship will never die, You're gonna see it's our destiny, You've got a friend in me…”

This tells me that a friend will help you.  A person will eventually be in a situation where he or she will need a friend.  If you are being a friend that help is expected.  That's right, it is expected!  Rom 15:14  If there is a "friend" in your life right now that you would not automatically help in an extreme situation, YOU ARE NOT THEIR FRIEND!  In our main text today we see the four friends "removed the roof above him" since the crowd prevented them from getting their friend to Jesus.  I read somewhere that early homes often connected one house to another. This paralytic man’s friends most likely carried him to a neighbor’s house and carried him across a small bridge. In the early homes there were sections in the roof that was not very thick!  These men actually dug through the roof so they could help their friend!  A friend will help you regardless of your condition.  2Ti 1:16-18  Paul was in chains, this man was paralyzed!  A person’s condition would never matter to a friend.  There is a desire in a friend that wants to help.  Rom 1:11,12 As a Christian, are you being that kind of friend?

Finally, Mr.Newman’s song says, “You've got a friend in me, When the road looks rough ahead, And you're miles and miles From your nice warm bed, You just remember what your old pal said.  Boy, you've got a friend in me."

This tells me that a friend will get you to the feet of Jesus.  Recap of the story!  Five friends get together and desire to help the one who is a paralytic.  They willingly fight the extreme circumstances of the crowd, crossing from one house to another, digging through a roof, and lowering their friend at the feet of the Messiah.  CAN A FRIEND DO ANYMORE FOR A PERSON THAN GET THEM TO THE FEET OF THE CHRIST?  Did you notice in verse 5 Jesus saw "their" faith. He didn't just notice the faith of the man in front of him but his friend's faith as well.  We should all have a faith that will impact our friends.  The best and strongest friendships revolve around the Lord. 1Sa 20:42   Friends can worship and praise together.  Ps 34:3  As a Christian, are you being that kind of friend?

Today, may we all be a friend that will go to extreme measures for our friends.  May we all be a friend that will automatically help our friends.  May we all be a friend that will get our friends to the feet of Jesus.  There are a lot of souls that are lost today. Some of them may be our friends.  Let's be a friend like the Word of God describes, a soul winning friend!  

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:  Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22