The Way
The Day the Roof Opened
The faith of friends opened the roof
Story
As word spread that Jesus had come back to Capernaum, the house filled with people in no time. There was no room left, not even outside the door. Pharisees and teachers of the law who had come from the villages of Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem, were sitting there too. Jesus was speaking the word to them.
Just then four men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. Blocked by the crowd, they could not possibly get in through the door. So they climbed up onto the roof, cleared away the earth, and broke an opening through. Through the pouring sunlight and the dust, the man lying on the mat was slowly lowered down in front of Jesus.
Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man lying there, son, your sins are forgiven. The teachers of the law muttered among themselves. This man is blaspheming God. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, get up, pick up your mat, and go home. At once the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. Everyone was amazed and praised God. We have never seen anything like this.
Walk this scene on the map →His Words
Child, your sins are forgiven.
So that you may know the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.
Which is easier: to say your sins are forgiven, or to say get up, take your mat, and walk?
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Mt 9:1–8 · Mk 2:1–12 · Lk 5:17–26
Background
Houses in Galilee usually had flat roofs of branches and clay laid over wooden beams, reached by an outside stair. Luke describes the man being let down through the tiles.
Pause and Reflect
Who do I want to bring to Jesus?