While JESUS was preaching God’s word to a crowd of people, four men came carrying a paralyzed on a mat…These men were determined. They must have really cared for the man because, 1st they had to get the paralyzed man to agree to go. After carrying him all the way, they must have felt discouraged when they couldn’t go straight to JESUS because of all the people blocking the way.
Yet, they refused to be stopped, so brainstormed and came up with a plan. Now this plan was a wild one and I don’t imagine it was easy to carry out. One or two of the men must have climbed on the roof of the house where JESUS spoke and then somehow managed to pull the paralyzed man( who was dead weight) while the other two on the ground pushed until they had their friend hauled up to the top of the roof with his mat. Then the 2 others climbed up on the roof as well. That must have taken work.
But that didn’t get their friend to JESUS. The men began digging a hole in the roof (literally scooped it out, very graphic and very true to fact. A modern roof would be untiled or unshingled, but an oriental roof would have to be dug to make such an opening as was required. A composition of mortar, tar ashes and sand is spread upon the roofs, and rolled hard, and grass grows in the crevices. In some cases, such as this, stone slabs are laid across the joists (Luke 5:19 says he was let down through the tiles) so that these men had their work cut out for them as they would have to not only dig through the grass and earth but also to pry up the tiles.. (I wonder what the owners and the ones below thought of when they heard things happening over their heads and dust started to come down.) That took courage and generosity (for I imagine the friends had to reimburse the owners and probably did the work to repair the roof).
But that didn’t get their friend to JESUS. The men began digging a hole in the roof (literally scooped it out, very graphic and very true to fact. A modern roof would be untiled or unshingled, but an oriental roof would have to be dug to make such an opening as was required. A composition of mortar, tar ashes and sand is spread upon the roofs, and rolled hard, and grass grows in the crevices. In some cases, such as this, stone slabs are laid across the joists (Luke 5:19 says he was let down through the tiles) so that these men had their work cut out for them as they would have to not only dig through the grass and earth but also to pry up the tiles.. (I wonder what the owners and the ones below thought of when they heard things happening over their heads and dust started to come down.) That took courage and generosity (for I imagine the friends had to reimburse the owners and probably did the work to repair the roof).
Then they gently lowered their friend down on his mat right in front of JESUS.
Seeing their faith (whose faith? the friends), James 1:18 Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven” …
to the unbelieving ones crowding around and thinking JESUS had no right or ability to forgive sins, JESUS said, “I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins…
then HE told the man, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. (JESUS proved through HIS actions HIS authority Mark 2:2-12)
We see many things here: Some about JESUS, some about the people crowding around JESUS, some about the friends, and some about the paralyzed man himself
1-JESUS
Doesn’t mind being interrupted
Loves the unconventional
Recognizes, appreciates and rewards faith
Knows what is in our hearts (the people thinking HE had no authority to forgive)
Is willing to act to prove things to the unbelieving.. (for HE has no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that they turn and live Ezekiel 22:30)
Deals with the foundational problem 1st.
2-the people who crowded in to hear JESUS preach
They came to hear JESUS but they no all accepted HIS teaching or believed in HIM
They were quick to criticize what they couldn’t understand
3-The friends of the paralyzed man
Knew JESUS was the answer
Loved their friend
Had a goal and wouldn’t be stopped (persistent faith moves us to overcome every obstacle to come to JESUS then after that it is all up to HIM.)
When hindered, devised a way
Were willing to give their all to get their friend to JESUS
4-the paralyzed man
Couldn’t get to JESUS on his own
Believed and acted when JESUS spoke directly to him (Romans 10:17)
Like these men and JESUS are we a friend of sinners? Do we really care? If we can’t get someone to listen to us tell about JESUS or go to church with us do we just drop it? Are we willing to go the second mile and climb on the roof and dig a hole and lower him before JESUS via our prayers?
1-JESUS
Doesn’t mind being interrupted
Loves the unconventional
Recognizes, appreciates and rewards faith
Knows what is in our hearts (the people thinking HE had no authority to forgive)
Is willing to act to prove things to the unbelieving.. (for HE has no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that they turn and live Ezekiel 22:30)
Deals with the foundational problem 1st.
2-the people who crowded in to hear JESUS preach
They came to hear JESUS but they no all accepted HIS teaching or believed in HIM
They were quick to criticize what they couldn’t understand
3-The friends of the paralyzed man
Knew JESUS was the answer
Loved their friend
Had a goal and wouldn’t be stopped (persistent faith moves us to overcome every obstacle to come to JESUS then after that it is all up to HIM.)
When hindered, devised a way
Were willing to give their all to get their friend to JESUS
4-the paralyzed man
Couldn’t get to JESUS on his own
Believed and acted when JESUS spoke directly to him (Romans 10:17)
Like these men and JESUS are we a friend of sinners? Do we really care? If we can’t get someone to listen to us tell about JESUS or go to church with us do we just drop it? Are we willing to go the second mile and climb on the roof and dig a hole and lower him before JESUS via our prayers?
Sometimes it takes originality to get people to JESUS. And if we don’t know what to do, ask JESUS, HE is called the Wonderful Counselor. HE has some pretty wild and wonderful plans, but best of all HIS plans always work!
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