As a child, one of the Sunday School stories that really captured my imagination was the one told at the beginning of Mark chapter 2, about the four men who went to incredible measures in order to get their paralysed friend to Jesus. WE are told that Jesus was preaching and teaching in a house packed with people, and that there was no room even outside the door. (Mark 2: 2.) When the four men arrived baring their burden, they knew there was no way they were going to squeeze themselves and the man they were carrying into the house, so they formed an alternative plan. I can picture them climbing up onto the roof, digging away until a sizable hole was formed, and gently lowering their friend down right in front of Jesus. They had done all they possibly could, and now it was up to the Saviour. They had literally given their dear friend into Jesus’ hands, believing only he could perform the miracle needed to make him walk. And of course, he did.
As I re-read this story in one of my Bible plans this week, I tried to imagine myself as one of the four friends. I realise that I have been in their position on many occasions when I’ve been made aware of a need in the life of someone I care about. I have offered promises and assurances of prayer, and sometimes to my shame I’ve gone away, moved on with my own life, and forgotten about the person I pledged to pray for. On other occasions I have prayed, even with great intensity, but I’ve been hesitant to actually get involved and do something practical to help.
These four men went over and above the duty of friendship. Their concern for the person suffering overrode everything else and caused them to do something radical. Just imagine the horror the home-owner must have felt when he looked up and saw a great big hole in his roof! If we felt called to do something like that today, what kinds of things might stop us? Perhaps we’d worry that we wouldn’t be able to afford to pay to have the roof fixed. WE might fear being arrested and charged with causing criminal damages. All these things might put us off doing the one thing our desperate friend needed and getting them to Jesus at any cost.
WE are living in a world full of desperate people, yet we exist in a culture that encourages us to be more self-centred and inwardly focused than ever before. The four men would possibly stand out in today’s world even more than they did back then. If, for example, their friend had been struck down by Covid 19 instead of being paralysed, they might have marched onto the infection-ridden ward, laid hands on him and prayed for healing. If necessary, they would have dragged him out of there, bed and all, and taken him to a place where other Christians would pray too. But if we were attending that church where they chose to bring him, would our immediate instinct be to run away rather than to stay and pray over the victim, because of the fear we ourselves would catch his virus? Maybe those men digging a hole in the roof had fears for their own safety too. The whole roof could have collapsed with them on top, injuring not just them but the people inside the house. Yet despite all that, they pressed on with the work they felt compelled to do.
Self-preservation is an inherent part of human nature, and I’m not trying to say it’s always a bad thing. There are times when it’s good to look after ourselves. And obviously, God calls us to take care of the people he has entrusted to us such as our partners, children and close families. I’m not saying we are all going to be called upon to take radical risks. But the question I am asking myself is: if God did call me to do something out of the ordinary on the behalf of a needy brother or sister, would I do it? Or would fear for my own safety and comfort override my concern for the person’s need?
Alongside my readings from Mark, I have also been studying the old testament book of Esther. This is an incredible account of a young woman who was brave enough to put her life on the line for her people. Esther knew that going before the king to plead for the preservation of the Jews might cost her own life. And at first she was hesitant to do it. It took a little prodding from her Uncle Mordecai to remind her that perhaps she had been raised up as queen for such a time as this. (Esther 4: 14.) This was her moment. And thankfully, Esther took the risk that led to the saving of an entire race.”
Esther’s words: “If I must die, I must die” (Esther 4: 16) show us how prayer and fasting had led to her moving from a place of fear to a place of faith. It is for this that we admire her as one of the great heroines of the Bible. Likewise, the four men who dug through the roof are also commended for their faith by none other than Jesus himself. (Mark 2: 5.) It is so easy to say we have great faith, until we are called to put that faith into action and do something out of the ordinary.
It is unlikely you or I will be called to risk our lives as Esther did, or even to dig through a roof to make sure a friend can get to Jesus. Yet we may be called to sacrifice in other ways. WE must remember that we serve the One who was willing to pay the ultimate price on our behalf, so any sacrifice we make will be minor in comparison to what Jesus did for us.
I love these verses from Philippians chapter 2. “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (Philippians 2: 5-8.)
My prayer this week is that I will put the needs of others before my own comfort, even if that involves an element of risk. I pray that I would know the voice of my Saviour so well that I would be able to step out in faith with confidence, should the need arise. Of course I enjoy my comfortable life. And there is nothing wrong with that, as long as maintaining it doesn’t become a stumbling block on the path to obedience. The questions I am asking are: Will I speak when god calls me to, even if I run the risk of having a negative reaction? Will I get my hands dirty when called upon to help someone I might not ordinarily choose to help? And would I be willing to dig through the roof if it was the only way I could ensure someone in need got to Jesus?
So very thought provoking and a challenge to my own life. Thank you Alex for reminding me that our lives are ordered according to our measure of faith.