What Impresses Jesus

Imagine I could tell you that you can impress Jesus. Not with perfect words. Not with polished prayers. Not with having everything figured out. But with bold belief that moves before it speaks.

“They were hardly out of the boat when some men carried a paraplegic on a stretcher and set him down in front of them. Jesus, impressed by their bold belief, said to the paraplegic, ‘Cheer up, son. I forgive your sins.’”
Matthew 9:1–2 (MSG)

In Matthew 9, Jesus is impressed before anyone ever says a word. He sees their action. He sees faith in motion. A group of friends carrying a man who cannot walk and placing him in front of Jesus. Their belief is loud without being verbal. Their faith shows up in effort.

What stood out to Jesus?

• Visible faith. Faith that can be seen, not just claimed. They do not talk about trust. They demonstrate it. They move. They carry. They act.

• Persistent faith. They do not let obstacles stop them. Difficulty does not turn them around. Resistance does not weaken their resolve. They keep going because they believe Jesus is worth the effort.

• Intercessory faith. The man on the mat never speaks. He does not ask for healing. Yet Jesus responds. The miracle happens because others believed and acted on his behalf. Sometimes breakthrough comes because someone else refuses to stop believing for you.

• Collective faith. A shared burden. A group effort. No one carries the man by themselves. Healing flows through community.

Application invites us to slow down and ask honest questions. What does my faith look like before I say a word? Is it visible in how I show up for people? Is there someone in my life who needs to be carried right now; someone discouraged, tired, or stuck? Am I willing to believe for them when they cannot believe for themselves?

This passage also challenges us to consider persistence. Where have I stopped short because it became inconvenient? What obstacle have I allowed to determine my obedience? Faith that impresses Jesus keeps moving even when it costs something. Persistent people please Jesus.

Finally, this story calls us back to community. Faith was never meant to be carried alone. Who am I walking with? Who is walking with me? Healing often flows through shared effort and shared belief.

Imagine what could change if we lived with a faith that moves before it speaks. A faith that shows up. A faith that carries others to Jesus. This is the kind of faith that still captures his attention.

When faith moves, Jesus responds.