Ride Or Die Friend
The Real Ones from Mark Chapter 2
Let’s talk about the kind of friends who don’t just say they love you—but show it. The ones who ride with you when life is good and when it’s falling apart. In today’s world, we call those people our ride or dies—the ones who roll deep with us no matter what. And believe it or not, the Bible gives us the perfect picture of a ride-or-die friendship in Mark chapter 2.
Walk with me for a minute and let me set the scene for you.
Jesus was in Capernaum teaching inside a packed house. I mean, standing-room-only kind of packed. People were pressed in tight, listening to every word He said.
Meanwhile, there’s this man—a paralytic—who couldn’t walk, move, or get to Jesus on his own. But thankfully, he wasn’t alone. He had four loyal friends who refused to let his condition—or a crowded house—stop them from getting him to the one Person who could heal him.
Here’s what the Bible says:
“Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.”
—Mark 2:4 (NIV)
Hold up wait a minute go ahead and put a fork in it! They dug through a roof?! Yes. They literally tore up someone’s home just to help their friend get his breakthrough. Now if that ain’t a ride or die moment, I don’t know what is. Actually, that’s ride or die on a whole other level.
Let’s break this down a little further. These guys didn’t just talk a good game—they played it. They carried their friend when he couldn’t carry himself. Let that sink in! They didn’t let obstacles stop them. And they didn’t care what people thought.
That’s what true friendship looks like:
They saw the need and stepped up.
They didn’t give up when it got hard.
They went out of their way—literally—to make a way.
How many people in your life would do that for you? And an even better question—who would you do that for?
One of the most powerful moments in this story comes in verse 5:
“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”
—Mark 2:5 (NIV)
Did you catch that? Don’t miss this! It wasn’t just the paralyzed man’s faith—it was his friends' faith that caught Jesus’ attention. Their belief and bold action made all the difference.
Your friends' faith can impact your breakthrough. And vice versa. That’s the beauty of real relationship. You carry each other when one is weak. You lift each other up. You don’t let your people stay stuck in a rut. Who knows the distance these friends carried their friend. But since they were ride or dies, they stayed strong and kept pushing to complete their mission. Getting him there was half completed. Ripping the roof off was the other half. Get yourself some 100% friends and leave the 50% friends alone.
Let’s be realistic—people throw the word “friend” around loosely these days. But real friends show up when it’s not convenient. They pray for you, push you toward purpose, and don’t let you give up.
So, here’s the challenge for all of us:
Be the kind of friend who tears roofs off.
Surround yourself with people who will carry you to Jesus when you can’t get there on your own.
Let your faith be strong enough to lift someone else.
You don’t need a crowd—you just need a crew. Four faithful, fearless, ride-or-die friends can make all the difference in your life. Just like the paralytic man, you may not always have the strength to move forward on your own. But when you’re surrounded by the right people—people of faith, people of action—you’ll get where you need to go.
Because that’s what real friends do.
Scriptures to Reflect On:
Mark 2:1–12 — The full story of the paralytic and his friends
Proverbs 17:17 — “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
Proverbs 18:24 — “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Do you have ride-or-die friends like this? Better yet, are you one?
Let’s strive to be the kind of friends who rip off roofs and bring each other to Jesus—no matter what.
💬 Drop a comment: Who’s your ride or die? Share this blog with them and let them know they’re your crew!
I pray you enjoyed this week’s blog. Thank you for your time and support. Always remember—a blessed soul is A Well-Fed Soul.
Until next time,
Cynthia