BRING HIM TO JESUS

MARK 2.4
“And not being able to bring him to Jesus on account of the crowd, they removed the roof where he was, and having made an opening they lowered the mattress upon which the paralyzed man lay. And Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralyzed man,
son, your sins are forgiven you.”

We are struck with the incredible faith of these men who were willing to go to extreme measures to bring a man to Christ. First, we see that the men would allow nothing to get in their way. There was a crowd around Jesus, but that would not prevent them. We are often ashamed to come near Christ when we are among a crowd of people. These men were so eager to bring their friend to Christ that they were willing to let their faith be seen in a great crowd. How often is the cause of Christ hindered because Christians are afraid to let their light shine (Matthew 5.16)?

There was also a physical hindrance to being near Christ. The crowd separated them from Christ, but so did the roof. We can only imagine what the people down below must have been thinking as the roof literally began to tumble on their heads. The men in this story were bold enough to dig through that earthen roof anyway. We are not told how the owner of the house responded to the hole in his roof. Perhaps he was just happy a man was brought to Christ at his expense. Perhaps this was Peter’s home where Jesus was staying (Mark 2.1).

The paralyzed man did not allow his lack of mobility to hinder him from coming to Jesus. Those who are sick need the Physician. Physical illness helps us see our need for the eternal Savior. Spiritual sickness demands us to run to the Savior.

This group of men had certainly caused a disturbance while Jesus was teaching, but they would not stop until they had brought their friend to Christ. They stand as a great example of faith moving men to action. We must allow nothing to stand between us and Christ. We must not allow anything to prohibit the spread of the Gospel. Charles Spurgeon said, “…then through door, through window, or through roof, let us, breaking through all impediments, labour to bring poor souls to Jesus. All means are good and decorous when faith and love are truly set on winning souls. If hunger for bread can break through stone walls, surely hunger for souls is not to be hindered in its efforts. O Lord, make us quick to suggest methods of reaching thy poor sin-sick ones, and bold to carry them out at all hazards.”