Walking on Rooftops

Let’s pretend for a moment that a reliable source has told you that Jesus is back and in town. What would you do? What would you be willing to risk to get there? Who would you take with you? What would you ask him?

Mark 2:1-12 (New International Version) 1A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
6Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7"Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

What drives four men to risk so much for someone else? What put them on a rooftop?


FAITH: Something had happened in these men’s lives that gave them faith in Jesus. Their faith led them to believe that Jesus could heal their friend. Their faith moved them to Christ. Their faith moved them to compassion. Their faith moved them to act in someone else’s life. Their faith brought healing to their friend. Does your faith create compassion in your life for others? It all begins with faith in Jesus.

PLAN: How do we get others to Christ? Create a plan. Be daring and courageous. Be willing to adjust your plan along the way. Your plan will undoubtedly involve some personal risk. How much rope will you need? No detail will be unimportant.

ACT: Work your plan, Pray, Witness, Live for Christ – create the rumor that something is different in your life, in your home, in your church. The mere rumor that Jesus was back home stirred these men to action. Does anything in your life create rumors that draw people to Christ? Do not forget the unified action of these men. These men acted with a singular purpose and they worked together to achieve their goals. In order to get some to Christ it will take a unified action of more than one faithful person.

Our community is filled with paralytics stuck on their mats. What paralyzes you? What paralyzes them? They are paralyzed by marital problems, divorce, illness, grief, addiction, job loss, self-worth issues, bankruptcy, etc. So many things paralyze us. When you see a need in someone’s life, do you act? Who will see these people with compassion? Who will take the risk to get them to Jesus? to get them to church? to get them to Sunday School?

Who will risk the rooftop for the chance to get someone to Jesus? Who do you know that needs delivered to Jesus? Make today the day you commit to intercede in their life. Begin in faith to make a plan and prepare to act.

Have you been on any rooftops lately?