Four Enthusiasts

Mark 2:3-5, 11. 

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was carried of four. 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

I had never really stopped to think about this story much until one morning recently.

Four men bring a paralyzed man to Jesus. We don't know how far they have come but they arrive and can’t even get in the door! This doesn't stop them for long. They lug the limp man up onto the roof and begin making a hole.

Imagine now you are one of the crowd in the house, listening to Jesus preach. Suddenly you hear people walking around on the roof. Then there is banging and bashing. You try to refocus on Jesus, but you happen to notice dust coming down from the ceiling. Soon there is a hole and you see the culprits. The men continue making the hole bigger. Then they lower a paralyzed man and Jesus miraculously heals him.

The verse says 'when Jesus saw their faith,’ this is an active faith, a faith that doesn't count costs. Would you put a hole in someone else’s house even if it was to help another person? Wouldn’t you consider other options first? I would have just waited at the door, I mean less effort, no damage to the house… These men have inspired me. Inspired me to have faith, put in effort, persevere, be persistent and go the extra mile.