Mark 2:1-5
When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
One of the constants of my childhood was receiving Arch Books in my Christmas stocking and under my pillow on my birthday. Archbooks were illustrated stories from the Bible designed for young readers. (Think of them as the Christian version of the Little Golden Books.) My parents would read them to my brothers and sisters and me at bedtime, and as we began to read we would practice by reading them to our younger siblings. Next to the story of David and Goliath (perhaps for obvious reasons :)), this story was my favorite.
I think I liked the idea of these incredible – as well as ingenious and intrepid! – friends who wouldn’t stop until they got their paralyzed friend in to see Jesus. And I loved that Jesus stopped everything and healed him. That’s the way it should be, I thought – people looking out for each other, ready to take risks for each other, and God responding to our needs. It was a simple, and perhaps childlike, understanding of Christian community, but there are times I still think that – that what we ready need to do in our congregations and homes and communities is look out for each other, take risks for each other, and then be prepared to be surprised by what God might do.
It made sense. Or, at least most of it made sense. One thing I didn’t quite understand was why Jesus was telling this man that his sins were forgiven. Oh, I understood that Jesus was all about forgiveness, but it just seemed a funny thing to say to someone who was paralyzed. And, as the story will show, I wasn’t alone. We’ll get there soon enough, though. For now, let’s just give thanks for great friends.
Prayer: Dear God, we do thank you for friends and ask that you help us to respond to each other’s need with boldness and confidence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This is also a favorite story of mine. For many years as part of the church I projected myself holding the mat. More recently I believe that we each need a turn lying on the mat. Although I am not “a paralytic”, I can be healed. It is a gift to begin my day as a forgiven sinner.