Lord Jesus, some of my friends have had back surgery 

    and others are soon to have it.

They are hoping for complete healing.

They are like the Paralyzed Man who was brought to Jesus.

 

But things aren’t going as we had hoped

    and we are concerned about their wellbeing.

Lord, they know you and have received your salvation;

    they have enjoyed a transformed life because of their new birth.

They know and believe that you alone have the authority to forgive sins,

    and that it is not harder for you to heal the body than it is to save the soul.

 

Jesus, we want to be like those four companions 

        who brought the Paralyzed Man to you,

    offering up our prayers on the altar of our hearts 

        just as they lowered the man through the hole in the roof

            placing everything at your feet.

 

Lord Jesus, we ask you to demonstrate your authority again;

    we beg you to speak the word of healing upon the bodies of our friends,

  and as they “take up their mats and walk”

    we will all joyously proclaim your amazing grace!

 

EM

 

__________________________

 

 

Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”