“And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.” Mark 2:3 ESV
Reflection: why didn’t the paralytic man come to see Jesus by himself?
We have some amazing neighbors and friends. When we experienced a house fire recently, they came quickly to our help, offering a place to stay, meals, practical supplies, and just company. Checking in on us, multiple times a day, asking if they could do anything for us. What was so amazing to experience was that we didn’t have to ask for anything; they just jumped in to help however they could. Bringing practical supplies like a cooler with bottled water, boxes to pack stuff in, flashlights, power, inviting us into their home for a meal, praying for us, among many other things. Just stopping by, or sending a text, checking in on how we were doing, was all so meaningful. This really helped lift our spirits through a difficult time. I could really see the love and care from so many, also in real practical ways, using their time and means to help. It was so beautiful to see and experience the light and love of the Lord through them.
While you might brush over the reflection rather quickly today, since the answer to the question is so very obvious, we can for a moment put ourselves in the shoes of the paralytic. He probably had heard rumors of this Jesus who cast out evil spirits, who healed the sick, even the lepers. But being confined to a bed, he clearly could not get to Jesus by himself. There were only two options for him – either Jesus would show up at his house, or he would have to somehow get to a location where Jesus was teaching. We can only imagine his glimmer of hope when he heard Jesus was in Capernaum, that maybe Jesus could heal him too, that maybe he could stand up again and walk.
If this was you, who would call on to carry you to Jesus? Who would be willing to “carry” you?
Clearly the paralytic needed help to get to Jesus. In the focus verses today, it says that four men carried him to the place where Jesus was teaching. Jesus was probably at someone’s house. Perhaps Simon Peter’s and Andrew’s home. And, it says the size of the crowd that had gathered in and around the house was so large, preventing them to get the paralytic man to Jesus. But these men were determined to help. They devised a plan, and carried him up on the rooftop, and with ropes lowered his bed right in front of Jesus. And, you probably know the rest of the story. But let’s today focus on these four, nameless men who were really the conduit for even this beloved story to even happen. And, perhaps even more challenging to think about is, what if we saw someone we knew needing help, perhaps someone that had been helpless all their life?
Would we be one of the four men in our story?
It is easy to think “yes, of course I would help”. But keep in mind this also required faith for the four men, as there was no guarantee that this would work. Perhaps they wouldn’t even get to Jesus. Or, perhaps he had already left by the time they got there. We can image how we would have reacted if someone asked us such a thing. But we learn that these four men, like the paralytic, had faith. Jesus calls this out, and says “And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.””Mark 2:5 ESV. Notice it says “their faith”, which included the four men who carried the paralytic man.
The first three miracles Jesus performed, 1) casting out demons, 2) healing a leper, and 3) healing a paralytic, all are representative for the effects of sin. Or stages of sin. Sin is first giving “room” to evil, then it causes sores and the withering away as with leprosy, and finally causing complete paralysis as with the paralytic as being in a prison. James wrote “Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” James 1:15 ESV. But Jesus not only forgives sin; His ways “take away” sin by following Him. This is why He told the woman “And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”” John 8:11b ESV
The key message for us today is for all of us to remember that, from time to time we all need help from others. And, when we can, we also should look for and “help the helpless”. It might be in very small, practical ways, bringing someone to the doctor’s office. Or providing a meal or bottled water to a neighbor in need. Or checking in on them, how they are doing. It might be inconvenient, perhaps having to put our own plans aside for a little bit. But it might mean that someone who is spiritually paralyzed will meet Jesus through us, and be healed. Let’s look for these opportunities, to demonstrate the love and light of Jesus in us.
