Through the Roof - July 13
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 26, 28; PM Psalm 36, 39; 1 Samuel 19:1-18; Acts 12:1-17; Mark 2:1-12
Today’s Reflection
Imagine living in Jesus’ neighborhood and then hearing that your neighbor finally has returned home from a long trip—and you’ve heard all sorts of stories about amazing things he said and did while traveling through so many other villages and towns. What would you do? Run over to Jesus’ house, of course, to see and hear for yourself!
This is just the situation Mark describes in the story we hear today from Mark 2. So many people want to get close to Jesus and hear firsthand from him that they crowd into and all around his house: “So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door” (2:2).
A particular group of five friends has heard the stories of what their neighbor Jesus has been doing in other towns and they talk amongst themselves about how they really need to get into Jesus’ house, too. One of their group is paralyzed (whether short-term or long-term, we don’t know) and the other four friends are determined that they will make a way for their friend to get in front of Jesus so that he can be healed. Since the door is blocked by the crowd spilling out of the house and into the street, they think about their options and realize there’s another way in—through the roof!
In our time, we may not think of the roof of the house as having much potential for being an entryway into the house. But the kind of house common to Capernaum at the time was constructed in such a way that this was possible. According to one commentary, “A flat roof could be accessed from the outside. It consisted of branches and sticks, combined with clay, and Luke adds the detail that the roof had clay ‘tiles,’ which were used on some houses at that time” (ESV Study Bible 1896). So, the way this roof was constructed meant that if someone were determined enough, they could make a way into the house from above: “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” (2:4).
We learn a lot about the faith of these five men through this very creative, determined act of friendship. Perhaps the paralyzed friend had been in an accident or had suffered an illness while Jesus had been out of town. Finally, they heard the news that Jesus was home—and they weren’t going to let the crowd stop them from getting their friend in front of Jesus.
Now some would have been angry to find people digging an opening in their roof, skipping in the line, so to speak, by lowering a man in through the ceiling. But Jesus saw this as an indication of their great faith in God, not to mention their great love for their friend: “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ … ‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’” (2: 5, 11-12).
In the book, Mark as Story, which we were assigned to read by our beloved New Testament professor at Seminary of the Southwest, the authors share some insights on what we learn about faith through these nameless characters in Jesus’ story: “The faith of the minor characters is important, because the work of the rule of God is contingent on people who ‘turn around and put faith in the good news.’ … Sometimes, friends or family bring the person to be healed… The active faith of these surrogates counts for the faith of trust of those on whose behalf they have come.”
As Mark describes, “When Jesus saw their faith,” it was then that he pronounced forgiveness and healing would be given to the paralytic man. The faith of his friends had made it possible for the man to be restored to health by Jesus. However, as the authors of Mark as Story observe, “For Mark, faith does not itself restore the suppliant, for it is God alone who restores. However, because neither Jesus nor God forces healing, faith becomes essential as a way to release and receive healing. Faith does not have to do with correct beliefs about Jesus. For Mark, faith is a matter of trusting that God will act through Jesus. Such faith gives people access to God’s power.”
As believers in Christ, sometimes we are blessed to be given the role of suppliant on behalf of another—God allows us the privilege of being in a position, through our own faith, of seeking healing on behalf of someone else. We do this through praying for someone in need, but also as we stand by someone as they seek healing. Maybe we go with someone to their appointments, a prayerful and reassuring presence, an advocate for them with their medical team. Maybe along with others we help point someone who has been resistant to healing toward new resources for health and wholeness. As we are reminded today in Mark 2, “By faith, the suppliant is empowered to be a partner in the healing with God” (Mark as Story 131-132).
—Becky+
Questions for Self-Reflection
When has someone been a suppliant on your behalf, praying to God for your healing? When have you experienced others taking the role of advocate for you, making sure you have access to the caregivers and resources needed to promote health and wholeness in your life? When have you taken on these roles for others, and what did you learn by living out your faith in this way?
Daily Challenge
If you’re looking for a good resource to help you dig deeper in the Gospel of Mark, consider getting your own copy of Mark as Story, which helps us understand this Gospel account through focusing on its narrator, settings, plot, characters, and audience.