When was the last time you tore the roof off the place to get what you wanted?
Well, then, when was the last time you tore the roof off the place to help a friend?
Well, then, when was the last time you tore the roof off the place to get your friend, or anyone for that matter, to, or in front of, Jesus?
1 When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9 “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? 10 “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”–He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
Mark 2:1-12 NASB95
This same incident is covered in Luke 5:17-26 and in Matthew 9:2-8 (but sans the roof removal in Matthew)
I have long marveled at this paralytic’s four friends that were so confident in what they knew of Jesus that they just knew they must get their friend to, and in front of, Him. So much so, that they were not only willing to carry him, perhaps a long distance, acting as his ambulance if you will, and to fight the crowd. And, then, even when encountering difficulty breaking through to Jesus, they were motivated to literally exercise great creativity and literally tear the roof off the house and let their friend down in front of the Master/Healer.
And please note, while Jesus often said things like “your faith has” to those he healed. In this case, we read “seeing”, not the faith of the paralytic, but, ” seeing their faith” He moved on behalf of their friend. And initially Jesus did far more than just restore his paralyzed body. He forgave his sin.
Again the question. Are you/we moved by your/our knowing Jesus, or what you/we know of Him, to carry your/our friend in need to Him? And are you/we willing to get creative to get them to Him. Are you/we willing to Rip The Roof Off to get them before Him? Hmm, if you are like me, just taking them before Him in prayer sometimes seems like labor. I mean, get personally involved in taking them…. I don’t know about that.
Another thing I noticed recently in this incident is the controversy that ensues from Jesus’ forgiveness of the paralytic’s sin. He is marked as a blasphemer by the religious scribes/lawyers as a result.
in reading their hearts and motives, I love Jesus response:
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’?
I love this response because it makes me think about the shallowness of my considering the true need of most people. Oh, I can find compassion for the lame, blind, deaf, paralyzed, etc. And, to be clear, I am not belittling any of these physical conditions or their needs. But, isn’t what I really desire for my friends, or anyone else, to first know the life that comes from being released from sin and its penalty, death. To be raised from that death, and to introduced to Jesus, who alone is the only One that can do that; Isn’t that the initial and greatest miracle. He has that authority! So, then healing, or deliverance, out of that authority, is certainly within His scope. So, which is easier? Perhaps I should consider Ripping the Roof Off to see that accomplished a bit more.
10 “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”–He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.
Jesus outlines His authority, and speaks very directly to the scribes affirming His authority to forgive sins, and then confirms and validates it with the miracle healing of this man paralyzed by sin but whose friends went to incredible measures to introduce him to the Master/Healer. He went home whole, carrying his pallet, the very thing he had been carried upon by His friends.
It is easy for us to be distracted by what may seem more obvious and pressing needs. Again, not to belittle them. But the gospel holds the power of God for life, raising man from being dead by the forgiveness of sin.
[Romans 1:16-17 NASB95] 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it [the] righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS [man] SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
John the Baptist preached a baptism for the forgiveness of sin as he prepared the way for Jesus and the gospel.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY; 3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'” 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
Mark 1:2-5 NASB95
3 And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. 5 ‘EVERY RAVINE WILL BE FILLED, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE BROUGHT LOW; THE CROOKED WILL BECOME STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH; 6 AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.'”
Luke 3:3-6 NASB95
Jesus, as He instituted the New Covenant, made it clear that His mission and purpose (in death and resurrection) was to bring in, and mediate, the forgiveness of sin.
27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave [it] to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:27-28 NASB95
After his resurrection and appearing to followers on the road to Emmaus, He appeared to the disciples and was encouraging them, and specifically reminded them that the forgiveness of sin would be proclaimed, and that they would be empowered by to be witnesses of that by the promise (the Holy Spirit) of the Father coming upon them.
45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.48 “You are witnesses of these things. 49 “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Luke 24:45-49 NASB95
John also records a post resurrection commissioning of the disciples this way.
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace [be] with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 “If you forgive the sins of any, [their sins] have been forgiven them; if you retain the [sins] of any, they have been retained.”
John 20:21-23 NASB95
Wow! This should leave us with some strong consideration of that commission, and of the power of the Holy Spirit within us, as we function as His disciples and His Body. It is very noteworthy to consider that He specifically says that as the Father sent Him, He was sending them/us. He alone, of course, made the forgiveness of sin possible in His suffering and resurrection. But, He also brought the good news of repentance and forgiveness to all, Jew and Gentile, and that would be on going through them/us.
And, here, He appears to send the Holy Spirit by His very breath of life. And the first thing He speaks of afterwards is the forgiveness of sins. It may be His intention was to encourage them toward forgiving any wrong done they would encounter as those sent out But, I think , it not a stretch to consider His intent was to make it obvious that they would be carrying power in their message to bring forgiveness by and through Him to hearts and men because of His death and resurrection, and to make them aware of their part in facilitating that forgiveness. They would be empowered to announce the forgiveness of sin, and to warn of retaining it in rejecting forgiveness of sin. It is an awesome honor, and responsibility, entrusted to His disciples. How awesome to be RIPPING THE ROOF OFF to bring friends/others to find His forgiveness of sin and walk away alive and whole.
Is it any wonder that Peter, in perhaps the first gospel preaching after the empowerment of Pentecost, says:
38 Peter [said] to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
Acts 2:38-39 NASB95
I have made it clear that Jesus preached the gospel of the Kingdom, and not a shallow gospel of salvation alone. The gospel of salvation is the portal to the Kingdom. Let us comprehend the centrality of Jesus’ death and resurrection in communicating the forgiveness of sin, so we may also see the miracles of the Kingdom in our friends/others as well. Which is easier to say ” Your sins have been forgiven you in Jesus” or, “Arise take up your pallet and begin walking in Him.”?