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Mk.2:1-12 – The Unthinkable Way
The easy way became impossible. The unthinkable way became the only way. If this doesn’t make sense, it will become clear. As clear as faith.
Some come through the proverbial frontdoor when making a point. Some come through the backdoor. It has been said of me I come through the side window! What hasn’t been said of me is when making a point I come through the roof! Five anonymous men literally came through the roof to make the point they believed Jesus could heal.
Jesus’ house was packed. These men couldn’t come through the front door because they couldn’t get near it (Mk.2:2). While Jesus was teaching the crowd (Mk.2:2), somehow four men managed to climb, while carrying their paralyzed friend, up on the roof. Then they, in today’s parlance, destroyed private party to get to Jesus. They dug a hole in His roof and lowered their friend (Mk.2:4)! What friendship. Just as Jesus desscended to come to man, this man descended to come to Jesus. When the easy way became impossible, the unthinkable way became the only way.
Imagine being the owner of this house and hearing the noise above you and all of a sudden seeing a hole and a paralyzed man being lowered on a pallet. What many people would see is a hole in their roof. What Jesus saw was faith (Mk.2:5). Because He saw their faith Jesus then said, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mk.2:5) and eventually healed him (Mk.2:11-12).
What is the faith that saves? Is it “faith only”? Is it faith plus works? According to Jesus it is a faith that works. Can our faith be visibly seen? Four men worked hard for their friend. All five had faith. They didn’t earn anything. But what Jesus visibly saw was their faith. The unthinkable way, faith, became the only way.
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