This week we will enter into the town of Capernaum in the New Testament. I’m in the process of reading the gospels in my chronological Bible, and I’m having so much fun reliving the places and towns we visited as I read these stories. For those of you who do not know, my husband and I were able to visit the Holy Land back in 2014. It was a trip that changed my life and my view of the Bible. I read the stories of the Bible in color now because I’ve been there. I’ve seen the trees, the cities, and the waters. It was a very moving experience that I feel all believers need to make a priority to visit.

Capernaum was one of my favorite cities to visit.

In Capernaum we have the synagogue where Jesus taught, we have Peter’s mother-in-law’s house, and the place where Jesus called Matthew to be his disciple. It was also the location where the friends brought a paralyzed man to Jesus in order for him to heal their friend. In the process, they found the house was too crowded so they climbed to the roof, removed some tiles, and lowered their friend to Jesus for the healing.

The friends had faith Jesus could heal this man. Their faith brought an opportunity to this man the he would not have without them.

This made me think, do we have enough faith for others that Jesus can heal them that we provide opportunities for them to be changed?

When Jesus saw this man, the first thing he did was to say, “Your sins are forgiven”. He healed him spiritually; not physically. There are times we bring others before Jesus expecting one thing when Jesus does something differently. That day, Jesus realized he needed both spiritual and physical healing.

After he helped him spiritually, he said, “Get up, take your mat, and walk.” He spoke and expected the guy to act upon His words and commands. And, to the delight of the story, the guy jumped up and everyone was amazed. The faith of the friends brought both spiritual and physical healing to this man and changed him forever.

We can have faith for others, we can bring them to Jesus, but it is Jesus who knows which healing we need most, or first. Then, as Jesus brings healing to our friends, we have to let that person decide if they want the healing. The man could have looked at Jesus and said, “You’re crazy if you expect me to get up and walk. I’m paralyzed.” He could have just continued to lay their and not move. Instead, he witnessed the faith of his friends and their faith moved him into faith that Jesus could heal.

Do not underestimate your sphere of influence. Do not underestimate the impact of your faith on others. The question for you today is: How big is your faith? Is it big enough to move others? Is it big enough that your faith in God’s healing upon their lives can move them to believe God can heal?

May we act in faith today on behalf of someone in need of healing.

© 2018 Susan M. Sims

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