Be a “Stretcher Bearer.”
“And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.”
Mark 2:4
He was paralyzed. How was he going to go see Jesus for healing?
The only way to get there would be with the help of his friends.
This would not be an easy task. The paralyzed man was dead weight. He would have to be carried.
So they lift the man on a stretcher, which was possibly a thick blanket.
The Bible doesn’t say how far they had to carry him, but I imagine it was hard work!
Then they get to the house where Jesus is. Standing room only! And, there’s a crowd around the house.
I imagine that the friends were disappointed. But, something made them not give up!
It was the love and compassion they had for their friend. They had to try something “outside the box.” So they climbed up to the roof of the house, pulling their paralyzed friend up to the top probably with ropes. This too was no easy task!
Then they cut into the roof which might have been made of straw and mud. (Luke uses the word tiles.)
G. Campbell Morgan said that original Hebrew text conveys the idea that they tore into the roof. A sense of urgency!
Can you imagine being inside the house listening to Jesus, when the ceiling starts coming apart?
Then, a man is lowered into the room.
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.””
Mark 2:5
It doesn’t say that the reason the man is paralyzed because of sin, but Jesus knows that forgiveness is his greatest
need.
However, Jesus did heal the man of paralysis.
I’m sure the man’s friends were thankful for that. They sure didn’t want to carry him home again!
They… Not just one person. It sure would have been hard if not impossible for one person to carry, climb up to the roof and lower their paralytic friend to where Jesus was.
So, the question is. Who can we be a “stretcher bearer” for today? We can work together to help those who are weak.
Paul tells us to:
“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”
I Thessalonians 5:14
May God grant us the discernment to determine who needs our help today and may we work together to help them.
