Then they came, bringing a paralytic to Him, who had been picked up and was being carried by four men. And when they could not get him to a place in front of Jesus because of the throng, they dug through the roof above Him; and when they had scooped out an opening, they let down the [thickly padded] quilt or mat upon which the paralyzed man lay. And when Jesus saw their faith [their confidence in God through Him], He said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven [you] and put away… But that you may positively and beyond a doubt that the Son of Man has right and authority and power on earth to forgive sins – He said to the paralyzed man, I say to you, arise, pick up and carry your sleeping pad… and be going on home. And he arose at once and picked up the sleeping pad… and went out before them all… (Mark 2:3-5, 10-12, Amplified)

There is a verse in the Bible that touches my heart each time I read it. It is found in John 5 and is the account of the invalid healed at the pool of Bethesda.

There was a certain man there who had suffered with a deep-seated and lingering disorder for thirty-eight years. When Jesus noticed him lying there [helpless], knowing that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, Do you want to become well? …The invalid answered, Sir, I have nobody when the water is moving to put me into the pool; but while I am trying to come [into it] myself, somebody else steps down ahead of me. (John 5:5-7, Amplified)

This man was helpless. He said he had no one to help him. I thank God that Jesus came to him that day and healed him.

There are so many out there in this same condition. I see them almost every day, in the hospitals, in the nursing homes. People who have no one to help them. No one to carry them as the four friends carried their paralyzed man to Jesus. Many have been that way for years. Who will carry them?

The title of this post is They Carried Him. I see that this can have many different meanings. But each one means that we do not sit idly by and watch a helpless person try to do it themselves.

The first meaning I see is just like the men in Mark 2 who carried their friend to Jesus, we too can carry others to him. We can carry them to Him in prayer. Spending time praying not only over our own needs, but taking the time to pray for those in need of a touch from the Healer.

I like that it says in that scripture that Jesus saw their faith. Their faith helped draw healing for this man.

I like that they were not deterred when they couldn’t enter the building Jesus was in. They went above and beyond and carried this man to the roof of the house, tore a whole in the roof and the four them lowered him down in front of Jesus. They worked together to get healing for their friend.

Another meaning I see in this title is they carried Him. In the case of the man at the Pool of Bethesda, he was helpless, he had no one, and Jesus, the Healer came to him. There are many trapped in their own bodies unable to leave hospitals, nursing homes, or their own homes, but we can carry the Healer, Who lives on the inside of us to them.

And these signs shall follow them that believe… they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18, KJV)

He who believes in Me… as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water. (John 7:38, Amplified)

I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even great things than these, because I go to the Father. (John 14:12, Amplified)

He “went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38, KJV).

Find someone who is helpless. Find someone who has no one. Carry them in prayer. And also go and preach the Gospel (the Good News). Carry Him to those who need Him most.