Jump Start # 4032
Mark 2:3 “And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men.”
I love how the Gospel of Mark just pulls the curtain back and shows us the busy Jesus. Here the Lord is in a packed house. Standing room only, is how we’d tell the story. People love to be around Jesus. A crippled man is brought to Jesus by his four friends. Without these four friends, this man would have never been able to connect with Jesus. Mark does not record any conversations from the four friends or the crippled man. The only words he gives us are the words of the Lord.
Coming to the house, these four friends encounter a problem. They can’t get to Jesus. It seems they know that if Jesus sees the crippled man then the Lord will heal him. There’s a lot of faith running through the hearts of those four carrying their friend. No one in the doorway makes way. No one wants to give up their position. They want to be near Jesus.
How easily, these four could have concluded, we tried, but we just can’t get inside. Maybe the next time. Maybe tomorrow. But, they didn’t give up. Up to the roof, carrying the crippled man. They break apart the roof enough to lower this man. Dust and debris would have fallen on those inside. Jesus stops His teaching and immediately forgives the crippled man of his sins. In the eyes of the Lord it is better to be crippled in foot than crippled in the heart. The spiritual always surpasses the physical.
There are layers of great lessons in this simple story. Jesus shows that He has the power and the right to forgive. Jesus knew what the Jewish elite were thinking. That alone shows that He is God. The crippled entered with the help from friends through a roof. He leaves on his own, walking out the door. Simply incredible!
Some thoughts for us:
First, there may be others who need Jesus but can’t get to Him. Jesus is the hero of this story. But without the four friends bringing the crippled, there would have been no miracle. Sometimes we have to carry people. This is often done financially, emotionally, mentally and even spiritually. Others need our help. One friend could not have done this. Together, as a team, these four worked together and in unity to put this man before Jesus. That’s what we need to do. We need to bring others to Jesus. The Lord will do the work. The Lord will do the saving. The Lord will do the changing. But, without us, many people remain at home, crippled in their faith.
Second, I wonder how many in that massive crowd, having seen all that took place, wished that they had brought a sick family member to Jesus. I should have done that, they must have thought. And, seeing someone come to Jesus will do that for us. Someone studies with a co-worker and he comes to Christ. We think, “I ought to do the same with some of my co-workers.” A student invites a classmate to services and they come. We think, “I ought to invite my neighbor.” Seeing how easy one does it, gives us the courage to do the same. I can invite. I can bring someone to the Lord.
Third, the text never tells us that Jesus thanked the four for bringing their friend. The emphasis isn’t upon these four receiving any praise. The glory goes to the Lord. We must remember that. Let them see your good works and glorify your Father, is how the sermon on the mount words it. “Well, if no one thanks me, I’ll not do it again,” is how some walk through this world. Let’s not be that way. It doesn’t matter who does the inviting, the studying, the baptizing, the hospitality, the glory goes to the Lord. A crippled man was made whole. A sinner saved. That’s what is important.
As those four worked their way down from the roof top, their eyes must have caught their friend, now walking through the doorway, a changed man. How happy they all were. How happy our Lord was.
Working together as a team—that’s the sign of a healthy church. That’s the Bible way.
Roger