When someone is sick, their whole world gets small. They are tired, in pain, maybe scared. And the people around them often do not know what to do. Many of us have stayed away from a sick friend because we were afraid of being a bother, or of saying the wrong thing.
Jesus said something about the sick that makes visiting them a very big thing.
The king's list
Near the end of his life, Jesus told a story about a king who separates all the people of the world into two groups. To the first group, the king says thank you, and lists what they did for him. The Gospel of Matthew, one of the four accounts of Jesus's life, records the list.
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Matthew 25:36 · King James VersionThe original Greek
γυμνὸς καὶ περιεβάλετέ με, ἠσθένησα καὶ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με, ἐν φυλακῇ ἤμην καὶ ἤλθατε πρός με.
Found in Codex Vaticanus (about AD 325), Codex Sinaiticus (about AD 350).
The people were confused. When did they ever see the king sick? And the king said that whenever they cared for the least important people, they were caring for him.
So the person in that hospital bed, or stuck at home on the couch, is someone Jesus said to treat as if it were him.
Ways to help
Visit, but keep it short. Sick people get tired fast. Twenty minutes is often perfect. Call first.
Reach out if you cannot visit. A card, a text, or a short voice message says "I have not forgotten you."
Bring food that is easy. Soup, bread, something that can go in the freezer. Ask about allergies and diet first.
Do the ordinary jobs. Walk the dog. Pick up groceries or medicine. Drive them to appointments.
Help the caregiver too. The husband, wife, parent or child taking care of them is tired as well. Offer to sit with the sick person so the caregiver can rest.
Do not try to explain the sickness. They do not need reasons. They need company.
Your visit counts
You do not need to be a nurse or know what to say. Sitting with someone, holding their hand, and listening are real gifts. Jesus said that when you visit the sick, you visit him. That makes a small visit one of the most important things you will do this week.