The four men who toted their paralyzed friend to see Jesus are among the “silent witnesses to the Gospel,” in Allan Wright’s commentary. They remind us that besides the main characters in the drama — Jesus and the paralytic — other individuals play a vital role. If his four friends had not brought their friend to see Jesus, if they hadn’t been pushy enough to tear a hold in the roof, the miracle would not have occurred. And, the gospel insists, Jesus was able to perform the miracle because “Jesus saw their faith.” It was the faith of the friends that brought about the healing. We might not be headliners in the Christian story but if we do our individual part we too will bring about miracles.
