And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. — MARK 2:12

Was the man who was lowered through the roof healed on the faith of his four friends alone? No, the man had to have faith too. How do we know that he had faith?

Well, how many bedfast people would let someone carry them to the roof of a house? Most bedfast people would say, “Wait a minute. Maybe we’ll see Jesus when the service is over. I’m already bedfast, and if you happened to drop me, I’ll surely break some bones. I’d be in a mess then.” But this man who was lowered through the roof permitted himself to be carried up to the roof by four men. He believed that something was going to happen, or he wouldn’t have let them take him up there.

Jesus said to the bedfast man, “. . . Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house” (Mark 2:11). I want you to notice something. When Jesus said to the man, “Arise, take up your bed and walk,” the man was just as helpless as he ever was. What if the man had said, “Lord, didn’t You see them bring me in here and let me down through the roof”? He wouldn’t have been healed. But when Jesus spoke to him, he made an effort to do what Jesus said. He made an effort to get up.

When he acted on what Jesus said, the healing was consummated. What if he hadn’t acted on what Jesus said? It wouldn’t have been consummated; the healing would not have come. It’s when he acted in faith on what Jesus said that the healing was manifested.

Confession: I act in faith on what Jesus said. And as a result, my healing is consummated. It is manifested.