Through the Roof

“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” — Mark 2:5

Jesus came home to the town of Capernaum, and the news spread quickly: “Jesus is back!” So many people crowded into the house where He was staying that there was no room left, not even outside the door. And Jesus was teaching them God’s Word.

Then four men came, carrying their friend on a mat. Their friend was paralysed. He couldn’t walk, or even stand up. They had heard about Jesus, and they were sure that if they could just get their friend to Him, Jesus would help.

But they couldn’t get anywhere near Jesus. The crowd was far too big.

Did they give up? No! Houses in those days had flat roofs, with stairs on the outside. So the four friends carried the man up onto the roof. Then they started to make a hole right through the roof, right above where Jesus was sitting!

Imagine being inside, listening to Jesus, when bits of roof start falling on your head! And then a man on a mat is lowered down through the hole, right in front of Jesus.

Jesus looked up at the four friends peering down through the hole. He saw how much they believed in Him. Then He looked at the man on the mat and said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Some teachers of the law were sitting there, and they thought to themselves, “Why does this man talk like that? Only God can forgive sins!”

They were right that only God can forgive sins. But they didn’t realise who Jesus was.

Jesus knew what they were thinking. “Which is easier,” He asked them, “to say to this man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? But so that you will know that I have authority on earth to forgive sins...” He turned to the man on the mat. “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

And at once the man got up! He picked up his mat and walked out, right in front of everyone.

Everyone was amazed. They praised God and said, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Anyone can say, “Your sins are forgiven.” You can’t see whether it’s happened. But when the man got up and walked, everyone could see that Jesus had real power. And if He had power to heal the man’s body, He had power to forgive his sins too. The man needed both, and Jesus gave him both.

And it all started with four friends who wouldn’t give up.

Read it in your Bible: Mark 2:1–12

Dear Jesus, thank you that you can forgive sins and that you can heal. Help me to be a good friend, who brings other people to you. Amen.