Red Letters – Through the Roof – April 13

RED LETTERS
April 13, 2021

Through the Roof

Mark 2:1-5, ‘After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that He was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in, or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to Him, carried by four men. When they weren’t able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.”’ (MSG)

Can you imagine being at a conference and suddenly a person is being lowered into the scene from a rooftop?! This event occurring even at a Christian conference where desperate people come to receive something from Jesus still makes it hard to fathom. I giggle at the surprised whispers that must have moved through the room and smile at the response of Jesus. It is so…Jesus, right? The home is packed out; the Bible says no one can get in or out. But we find faithful friends who love their buddy so much and also believe steadfastly in the healing miracles they have heard of this Jesus that they won’t accept no for an answer.

I hear their conversation. ‘What are we gonna do now? There’s no room; we can’t even get close.’ ‘Man, we came all this way! We heard this is the One who can change (we’ll call him Mat) Mat’s circumstance. Now, we can’t even talk to this Jesus.’ ‘Well, obviously He must be doing something right.’ Either that or He has a lot of people duped. Cuz, man, this Healer is busy!’ The fourth friend looks down at his buddy and sees the tears form in his eyes; the silent plea, ‘Please! Please! Don’t give up,’ his eyes beg, and the friend offers, ‘Don’t worry, Mat, we’ll find a way. Hey, guys, I bet we could get in through that roof. It doesn’t look too secure; what do you think?!’ They all size it up and nod, ‘Sure thing! Great idea! I’ll just throw Mat and his stretcher over my shoulder and climb up that ladder while ya’ll make a hole in the roof. Then we’ll drop him through it. Easy-peasy!’ and Mat’s eyes say a million thank yous.
Can’t you just hear it? But we actually read it also. Jesus is preaching the Word, and suddenly before His face appears a man on a mat. We read He is so moved by the emboldened expression of these men on behalf of their friend that immediately He forgives him. The evidence is in. Make sure you have yourself a couple good buddies who are willing to carry you and place you at Jesus’ feet when you are unable to get yourself there. We sometimes are insufficient for our own self; have a friend in your corner who will haul you when you cannot crawl. But, really, I bet these guys and their paraplegic friend likely kind of slap their knees and shrug their shoulders. ‘Man, we brought him to you for healing; what good is forgiving his sins going to do?! I mean, hello! There he lies, still on that stretcher, Jesus. Uh, what’s next? You gonna lift him out through the hole in the roof we just came in? I mean, this dude, Jesus, is getting heavy!’

But that’s why Jesus is God. Because He identifies the man’s real issue and his paralysis is not it; it is the sin in his life that Jesus sees, and with compassion, forgives and heals. What if Jesus had simply healed this man, directing him to take up his bed and walk, but had not dealt with and forgiven the sin in his life? I imagine he would have still been paralyzed by the grip of sin on his life, and therefore, there would be no freedom within. In fact, there is a beautiful little statement by Warren Wiersbe in the New Testament Wiersbe Bible Commentary, that says, and I quote, “Even before He healed the man’s body, Jesus spoke peace to the man’s heart and announced that his sins were forgiven! Forgiveness is the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performs. It meets the greatest need; it costs the greatest price; and it brings the greatest blessing and the most lasting results.” Wow!
But then, Mark 2:6-11 says, ‘Some religious scholars sitting there started whispering among themselves, “He can’t talk that way! That’s blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins.” Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, “Why are you so skeptical? Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or say, ‘Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both…” (he looked now at the paraplegic), “Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home.” And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him.’ (MSG)

Our guy got two miracles on that day, and depending what a person’s focus is, will determine what one chooses to believe is the most amazing of the two miracles. For me—and it is because I have been forgiven much and freed from so much bondage that kept me captive for most of my life—that the greatest miracle on that day was not that he was healed of his paralysis and directed to stand and walk. But that he was forgiven of sin that plagued him, offered cleanliness and set free!

I’ve been reading RED LETTERS all my life, but never with my heart.
During the month of April, let’s JOURNEY where JESUS journeyed,
and listen with our hearts to all He came to proclaim.