“…they removed the roof above him…”
Mark 2:4
The Gospel of Mark records five controversies that Jesus has with the religious leadership. (see Mark 2:1-3:6) The first controversy involves the authority of Jesus to forgive sin. This was an incredible aspect of Jesus’ work. Normally, it was God alone who retained the right to forgive sin. (see Isaiah 43:25 Psalm 103:3-4; and Micah 7). In this passage Jesus is going to forgive the sins of the paralytic. But our focus today is on how the paralytic man gets into the presence of Jesus. He is carried by four men.
And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:1-5)
How are we to describe these four men? They are sweaty but hopeful. They were carrying a pallet and a friend to Jesus. It is not certain how far they carried it, but it would have been tiring work regardless of the distance. They were exerting themselves, but they were hopeful. The reputation of Jesus’ power and willingness to heal was spreading throughout the countryside. They were confident that if they could get this man to Jesus that he would bless him. These men were disappointed but determined. The crowds were so thick and so unyielding that another course of action had to be taken. They decided to carry him up to the rooftop and to dig through the roof in order to get him to Jesus. They were persistent problem solvers motivated by love! They were risk-takers but rewarded. They would risk trouble and incur expense but they would be rewarded. Jesus sums them up with “And when Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” (Mark 2:5)
My closing questions for you and for us as a church family are: 1) What’s your roof? Personally, what is the thing before you that you will have to dig through in order to get others to Jesus Christ? What obstacle is in your life if when you remove it may upset those around you, but its removal will ultimately give others the opportunity to see Jesus? And 2) for our church family, what are the challenges set before us that require a team, the church, a challenge so great that one individual working alone could not hope to accomplish? [hint: it’s not paying the building off, it’s the Great Commission!] Have a blessed week and we will see many of you on Sunday.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
