Whoa, There’s a Hole in the Roof!

Some days later when Jesus came back to Capernaum, people heard that He was back in town, teaching and sharing stories of love and truth. Soon the crowd overflowed from the house where He was ministering; they spilled into the streets, and still more people pressed in to hear His teaching. 

Four men tried to bring a physically-challenged friend to Him. There were no ADA rules in effect. The crowd was super dense - it prevented them from getting close to Jesus. Being resourceful, and slightly disrespectful to the home owner, they climbed up and onto the roof, cut a hole between the rafters, and lowered the paralyzed man on his mat down to Jesus. Recognizing their faith, Jesus said to the mat bound  man: Son, your sins are forgiven. This statement by a ‘mere man’ was totally radical - some in the crowd were peeved. They believed this Jesus was making bold statements and he was taking away honor that was due only to God. Now things get really dicy: Jesus looks at those gathered, I can almost see him looking deep into the hearts of the religious leaders, He says: “...do My words trouble you?...is it easier to tell this paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to tell him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk”? Silence. Crickets. Firmly, Jesus tells the paralyzed man: “pick up your mat...go home” The gentleman did as he was told, he immediately rolled up his mat and walked out into the streets and headed out.

The story from Mark’s gospel caused me 
to consider a couple of questions: 

- Would Jesus recognize my faith, as He did with the four  who lowered the cripple through the roof?
- How radical, how unconventional, am I willing to be to let God’s glory shine?

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