Healing of the Paralytic
February 5, 2012
Mark 2:1–12 (NIV84) 1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralytic, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
You’ve seen the scenes on the news when a celebrity shows up and the crowds gather to catch a glimpse. It might be the latest singing sensation or a politician on the campaign trail or a popular sports figure. People flock to see popular individuals. This week the crowds have been in Indianapolis fawning over all those connected with the big game. Next week you will see crowds elsewhere. It has always been this way. And not just in this country. People flock to see popular people.
The same was true in Biblical times. That was being described in the Gospel reading for today. Granted, we are not talking about thousands of people here, but it was described as a crowd. It was more than could fit in someone’s house. When I went to India five years ago, we went around to different homes where literacy classes, Bible studies and Children’s Programs were being led. Everywhere we went there were so many people crowded into a home that some of us had to stand outside, and that is the scene I envision when I read this passage. Jesus went to Capernaum. In the first chapter of Mark’s Gospel we are told that when he was in Capernaum he stayed in the home of Simon Peter and Andrew (1:21, 29). Most scholars assume that he was in that same home here in chapter 2. Let’s think about the people involved in this event.
Paralytic
Jesus is there sharing the word with the people, and there is this guy identified as “a paralytic.” He was paralyzed. We don’t even know his name. He had probably been paralyzed for a long time. Most likely he had visited every doctor and faith healer trying to find relief and was clinging to a slim hope that he would someday be cured. I think of my dear wife and her migraines. We have tried doctor after doctor and remedy after remedy, but so far there has been no relief. That doesn’t mean we stop trying. But it can get very discouraging. I imagine it was that way for this man. So when his friends showed up and said, “We’re taking you to Jesus to get healed!” he was probably ready for yet another disappointment. Sure, he would give it a try, but he did not hold out a lot of hope. The friends take him anyway. These guys were willing to do whatever it took to make sure he got to see Jesus. But when you hear this story, you probably concentrate on this nameless paralyzed guy that gets healed. After all, that is how we identify the story, that is the attention grabber. But have you ever considered the others that were there and how all this impacted them?
4 friends
What about those four friends? Who were they? They had to be great friends. How long had they been caring for this guy, lugging him around? We know they were determined. Some scholars speculate that the fact they were willing to go to such extreme measures to get their friend to see Jesus suggests that his condition was critical. They were acting as though this was an emergency, something that could not wait. That is why they went so far as to remove the roof.
The homes had outside stairs that led to the roof. The roof was a place where people would sit in the cool of the day, and some would even sleep up there at times. So it was not unusual for people to be on the roof. They were built flat, usually with beams that spanned the support walls, and covered with multiple layers of tile and thatch and then a coat of plaster or mud to keep out the water. So to make an access hole through the roof took some doing. There would be some digging involved.
My in-laws live in an underground home. They built a concrete home above ground and then piled dirt on it with tall grass growing on top of the house for insulation. They also have solar panels on top of their home which help heat the water. At one point, he had to dig up one of the water lines on his roof. While he was up there with his shovel, he swung it to knock down a weed, and he hit the solar panel, breaking it. He called his insurance company to report the broken panel. The lady on the phone asked him where the panel was located. He said it was on his roof. She asked how it was broken. He said, “I was up on the roof with my shovel digging a hole, and I accidentally hit the panel with the shovel.” It got very quiet on the other end of the line. She didn’t know it was an underground home, and couldn’t figure out why he would have been on his roof with a shovel. It doesn’t make sense with most of our homes. But the homes in Israel were different.
Getting back to the story of the paralytic, these four friends were willing to do whatever it took. In their minds, it was absolutely essential that they get their friend to Jesus. And their efforts paid off. After they dug through the roof and made a big enough opening, they lowered him down in front of our Lord. Jesus told him he was forgiven. Jesus wasn’t forgiving this man for digging through the roof and causing a commotion and interrupting His teaching session. He told this paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Jesus told him this because he saw his faith. Jesus knew this man trusted and believed that Jesus could help him. So Jesus said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” That was the best news this man would ever hear. He may not have realized it at the time, but that was what he needed the most. Your sins are forgiven. This was probably not what he wanted to hear when he finally got to see Jesus up close. He wanted physical healing. And he would not be disappointed there, either. In order to verify that He had the authority to forgive sins, Jesus healed this unnamed crippled man. The man got more than he came for. The important thing was the forgiveness. The miraculous healing was to point people to that message.
Crowd
How do you think the crowd felt? Those with front row seats had been the first to arrive. They got to be near Jesus because they got there early. I think of those folks who camp outside a store for days before Thanksgiving so they will be the first ones to get in the store when the Black Friday sales begin. They would not take kindly someone trying to cut in line at the last minute. In a way, that is what these four guys are doing with their friend. They bypassed the normal way of doing things in order to cut to the front of the line and get their friend near Jesus. Don’t you think the people already there felt a little put out by this if not downright angry?
Peter and Andrew
Imagine if you are Peter and Andrew and this was your house. First of all, while most of us appreciate having company, what about when there is a big crowd? Maybe this isn’t the best time to talk about this, since all of you are invited to our home this Saturday for our Open House. Seriously, we love having people come our home and hope you will all be able to attend. But imagine if there were so many people there that no one else could fit in. Everyone is listening to Jesus. And then you hear some guys stomping around on the roof. You might think, “Hey, what are they doing on my roof.” And then some of the dust starts to fall in where they are digging, and then daylight shines through, and you are thinking, “These guys are tearing up my house! Who is going to fix this? Who is going to pay for this?” Those are very real concerns. Of course some great things happened when Jesus forgives this man and heals him. This is wonderful and you know that. But you are left with a hole in your roof!
People Today
Let’s consider what this account says to those of us living 2000 years removed from this event. Everyone is like the paralytic in the sense that we are in need of healing and cannot get to Jesus on our own. In his explanation of the Third Article of the Apostle’s Creed, Luther put it this way: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.” He goes on to tell us that the Holy Spirit must bring us to faith in Christ. And very often that is accomplished because friends will share with us the Good News of our Savior, in effect bringing us to Jesus just like the four friends in this story.
Those of us who know of the forgiveness and life and salvation that we have because of what Jesus did for us through His life and death and resurrection should now be like those four friends. We know that without Jesus people will go to hell. The situation is desperate. Those without Christ are in critical condition. We should be like those friends who were determined to do whatever it takes to bring people who need the healing Jesus offers to Him. That means we might have to be creative in our approach. These guys were willing to go through the roof to make sure their friend got to Jesus. What are you willing to do?
Too often we are like the crowd. We think, “Hey, we’ve been here a long time. We were here first. Why are these outsiders bothering us. They are upsetting our comfortable surroundings. They are not like us. They’re different. We were comfortable before they got here. ” That attitude drives people away from Jesus rather than bringing them into a saving relationship with their Lord. You already know that you are saved through what God has done for you in Christ Jesus. Jesus took all your sin on Himself and paid for it all by dying in your place. Heaven is already yours because you believe that Jesus is your Savior. So what is more important: you being comfortable, or people who are doomed to Hell being brought to Jesus?
We all have a little Peter and Andrew in us, too. When people are brought to Christ, sometimes it gets a little messy. Things are not always nice and neat. And there will be costs involved. I don’t just mean monetary costs. You are told that you need to count the cost of being a disciple. Your concern should not be that others tend to your needs. It should be that you are willing to bring others to Jesus. Luke 14:33 …any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
That sounds like a big sacrifice, but let’s keep it in perspective. You have been brought to Jesus. And with Jesus, you always get more than you came for. When you put your faith in Him and let Him do His thing, He does. He forgives you. Whatever sin there might be, whatever failing you have, no matter what you have done, that is something Jesus lived and died for. He made the payment for them all. That gives Him the right to tell you, “Your sins are forgiven.” His triumph over death and the grave tells you that you can rest assured that his promise is true. You have that in your life because you were brought to Jesus. So who will you bring to Him?
