Uncovering The Roof

Have you ever been in a really crowded house? One described:

And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. (Mark 2:1-2 KJV)

It wasn’t so bad when He was out in the countryside where thousands would spend a day listening to him.  Here in Capernaum, though, the houses were close together, streets confining, there wasn’t an inch around the door – and everyone was listening to Him.

Well, not quite everyone.

And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. (Mark 2:3 KJV)

Do you have four people that would carry you to be healed? Four people who would drive you to a doctor? A hospital? What happens if they can’t get you inside?

And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. (Mark 2:4 KJV)

Did you wonder what explanation they gave to the home’s owner? Was it the centurion of Matthew 8? Was it Peter’s home? Could it have been ours had we lived there? Would it be ours today?

Do we invite Jesus into our home, and all those who would follow with Him? Do we take our loved ones to Him as these four did? Is our faith as strong as theirs, enough that our Lord would say:

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. (Mark 2:5 KJV)

It took all five to get to Christ. Mark wrote, “When Jesus saw their faith” not “his faith.” Think about that. Without those friends, the man would never have been taken to Jesus. He would never have been an example in Mark’s book. It took four who loved him enough to carry him – and those four are our best examples. I do want those four men to be my example. I pray I would be strong enough to stand up to detractors:

But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? (Mark 2:6-7 KJV)

To say to them that all of this is done to show the Son of God. That He is able to heal both body and soul. To tell that He has priorities in faith, forgiveness and healing of soul and body.

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. (Mark 2:10-11 KJV)

All of this, that we may know the Son.