There was no room left, not even outside the door.
-Mark 2:2 (NIV)
OUR friend Jim seemed to grow a bit weaker each day. Cancer had left him emaciated and in constant pain. The doctors who supervised his care were grim about his chances of even surviving surgery to remove the tumor. As Jim's body grew weaker, his faith in God's healing power began to waver and become weak as well.
Then a small group of us began to pray for Jim. We recalled the four who lowered their crippled friend through a hole in the roof, a hole they had made with their bare hands. Imagine the four carrying their friend to Jesus, only to find they could not get to the healer because of the crowd! Hear the people below complaining as debris begins falling on them from the ever-widening hole appearing in the roof! But see the four refuse to be denied. They persevere until they place the man in front of Jesus. And, scripture tells us, Jesus heals the man not because of his faith but because of the faith of his friends.
We realized that we needed to bring our friend Jim into Christ's presence for healing. We began to pray, and God answered. Jim is recovering now and hopes to be back to work soon.
