Friends Help a Friend

Stories of Jesus  ·  Mark 2:3–5, 11–12

I can bring people to Jesus.

Have you ever helped a friend who was sad or hurt? It feels so good to help someone! Today we hear about four very good friends who did something really clever to help their friend get to Jesus.

There is a man who cannot walk. His four friends love him very much.

They hear that Jesus is teaching in a house nearby. 'We must bring him to Jesus!' they say.

They lift their friend on a mat and carry him through the crowded street. But when they get to the house, it is packed with people. They cannot get through the door.

But these friends do not give up.

They climb up on the roof! Very carefully, they begin to dig an opening.

Then, with ropes, they lower their friend right through the roof! Down, down, down. Until the man on the mat lands right in front of Jesus.

Can you put your arms up like you're slowly lowering someone? Like that!

Jesus looks at the man. Then He looks up through the hole in the roof at the four friends peering down.

He smiles.

'Get up!' Jesus says to the man. 'Pick up your mat and walk.'

And the man stands up. He rolls up his mat. He walks out the door.

Everyone is amazed. But maybe most amazed are four friends watching from the roof.

Prayer

Let's pray. Repeat after me:
Dear God,
Thank you for good friends.
Help me to bring
the people I love to you.
We love you!
Amen.

Listen to this devotional with audio narration and illustrations in the Seedling: Bible Stories app — short devotionals for Christian families with children ages 2–5.