TUESDAY, MAY 25, CRAZY FRIENDS

 TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 FRIENDS 

Do you have some crazy friends?  Like real crazy?

I want a scriptural basis on this, so from Mark 2 we have

“When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

So, four crazy friends really loved their other friend (the paralyzed one here).  They had heard that Jesus healed everybody.  But, it wasn’t going to be easy to see Jesus.  Think about meeting a United States President (anyone, no political nature here).  The President is surrounded by secret service police and bodyguards [aside, and I know one of them].  So, if I want to say “Hi” to the President, I can’t just call 1-800-PRS-DENT and say “Hi (insert name), I know you are going to be in Austin next week, I’d like to shake your hand and say hi”!!!  

My call would be treated as a crank call.  Who is this Karen White, and why does she really want to see the President?  I’m not sure I could get past the first clearance check, and then if they really investigated me and found out my past, I’m guessing I’d be put on the “Kook-list”, and the FBI would really dig into my past.  (FBI Agent 1:  This kook used to be a college professor, then retired and became a woman, and goes around espousing that ‘love wins’ - sounds like a real nut case to me!!) 

And, if I was somehow passed in the analysis, I would have such a thorough body search for weapons before I got within 100 feet of the President.

*****

So, here - a much more (at least in my opinion), the person was having a rally in his hometown.  Everybody who was anybody had gotten tickets (probably no tickets), to the event.  He seemed to be at a private home, not the local church or synagogue, and it was standing room only.  Darn.

Ben Jair (a made-up name) was kind of the leader of this group of friends.  (Maybe TF or LMG).

Abram “Hey Guys, this place is full, no way can we bring our friend Tuvya to see Jesus.”

Ben, pondering this for a minute, “Guys, I’ve got an idea.  Go get some tools - a couple of saws, hammers, shovels, ropes - and meet back here in 15 minutes.”

Abram “Are you crazy?”

Ben “Maybe a little!! <smiling>

In 15 minutes, the group was back together and climbed the back stairs to the house.  

Ben, “We’re going to make a hole in the roof” (again his friends saying “Are you nuts”) and lower Karen-Beth down.”

Ben walked around the roof.  He selected a spot near the northwest corner of the roof for the digging where the debris falling inside would not likely hurt anybody inside.  

The group dug for about twenty minutes, with Karen-Beth on her mat next to the digging.  Soon small chunks of the roof/ceiling were dropping on furniture in the corner.  Peter interrupted Jesus and said, “Hey Jesus, there seems to be some problem with the roof, maybe it is caving in”.  Jesus smiled and said, “It’s okay Peter”.

In a few more minutes, the four friends each grabbed the end of a rope and proceeded to lower Karen-Beth down into the room.  There were gasps, and quiet acclamations (who knows, maybe the audience was saying ‘OMG” (Oh My God), as the map with Karen-Beth was lowered into the room.  

The rest, of course, is written down, Jesus says “Your sins are forgiven, rise up and walk”, and Karen-Beth stood up, gave Jesus a big hug, and yelled “Thanks Guys” to the four on the roof.  

(I think Jesus may have come outside with Karen-Beth and greeted the four friends. And, the next morning the five of them (the four friends and Karen-Beth) were back on the roof, fixing it up!!!)

*****

Do you have such crazy friends that would do this?  Do you have such crazy friends that love you and want you to be healed and healthy?  

*****

Sometimes, like a lot of people, I get down on myself. “Nobody loves me, I guess I’ll go eat dirt”, but I know I have great (and crazy) friends like in the story, plus Jesus.  

So, what might it be like to be one of the crazy friends?  Can you go against the grain and find a way for your sick friend to get in to see the President?  (or to see God in the flesh?)

In my upcoming years, I want to be a crazy friend, I want to support my friends with love and encouragement, with prayer and intercessions.  But, I’m going to have to change my own life and attitude to be such a friend.

My friends, LOVE WINS!!!  Let us love one another today!!!

HUGS!!!

Karen