Tearing Off the Roof

Prayer of Adoration and Petition for the Congregation.

Reading of the text:

Mark 2:1–4 LSB

1 And when He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 And being unable to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof over where He was; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the mat where the paralytic was lying.

Key Question: Does the Gospel lead me to action?

Recap

Jesus has been baptized to fulfill all righteousness.

He was tempted in the desert, and overcame Satan’s scripture twisting.

Jesus immediately begins to preach the Gospel—Salvation by God’s Grace, through Faith.

Jesus heals people as a witness to the Gospel and God being among His people.

I. The Gospel Makes Itself Evident Everywhere. (v. 1)

Many Jews in that day believed that all disease and affliction was a direct result of one’s sins. This paralytic may have believed that as well; thus he would have welcomed forgiveness of his sins before healing.

John F. MacArthur

Mark introduces the interlude of Jesus resting and coming home after teaching and healing people.

The people respond to the presence of someone greater among them.

Notice that the people learned about it days later, not as soon as Jesus returned to Peter’s home to rest.

II. Jesus Draws People and He Teaches the Gospel. (v. 2)

Men may live in crowds, but they die one by one.

Anonymous

Here we see an echo of what happened in Mark 1:45 “45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in desolate areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.”

Something to remember is that in Jesus’ day, families lived in the same villages and towns, and the people coming into the home to take every available seat and floorspace to hear the Rabbi who does amazing signs!

Notice that the focus given by Mark (Peter) is the teaching ministry, nothing else. Yet, God’s spirit will stir people to respond to the free offer of mercy, love, and grace.

As we seek to be doers of the Word we must examine whether we are a crowd of onlookers, or are we a flock of yearning disciples?

III. The Gospel Gives Action-Prompting Hope. (v. 3)

Do not look to your hope, but to Christ, the source of your hope.

Charles Spurgeon

Mark focuses on the actions of the group, and the rough details of the scene that would no doubt cause a stir among the hearers in the house.

Scripture makes the point that the people learned about Him and came to hear Him, and these four men and the man who is laying on the mat show action as part of their hope.

We do not see anything else in the verse, other than we have five people who are moved to present one of them before Jesus, but the room is full to the brim and more.

IV. Gospel-Centered Faith is Solution Driven. (v. 4)

Faith in faith is faith astray.

A. W. Tozer

The men’s hope and determination is far more agile than the crowd’s gathering around them.

The four men tore off the roof off the house to lay the man on the mat before Jesus, and they present their friend before Him.

The scene in the text presents the reality of how grounded hope and gospel-centered faith lead the individual and community to action that leads to glorifying God.

Key Question: Does the Gospel lead me to action?

Application:

We turn ourselves over to God knowing He is all we need.

We seek to honor and worship Him because of who He is.

We boldly come before Him knowing He is a faithful Father, Brother, Savior, and Friend.

True friends trust each other.3

A. W. Tozer

Invitation and Closing Prayer