A First Century Intervention

In Mark chapter two Jesus heals a man who is paralyzed after some friends lower him through the roof of the house Jesus had been speaking in.  It was quite a scene as the thatched roof began to be removed and certainly the people underneath were a bit concerned about what was coming down on top of their heads.  But the craziness of the moment is quickly forgotten as Jesus begins to intervene in this man's life.

The first thing Jesus notices is the faith of the paralyzed man's friends.  It was strange for someone with a disability in that culture to have friends that were not also disabled  (see note below).  But the length that these able-bodied men go to on behalf of their friend inspires Jesus and He intervenes in this man's life to an incredible end.  He notices their great desire for their friend to be restored, perhaps both physically and emotionally, but also (because He's Jesus) wants to take advantage of the opportunity that is provided to teach about who He is - God in the flesh.

So Jesus first order of business is to forgive the sins of the paralyzed man.  This spiritual healing had no immediate physical effect but was a paradigm shift where eternity is concerned.  Jesus just made this man pure, blameless, forgiven.  That's huge!  Remember when Jesus said, if your eye causes you to sin, cut it out and throw it away - it is better to enter eternity with one eye then go to hell with both.  Jesus is much more concerned about the man's spiritual standing then him being able to stand physically.

But before much else is done the religious leaders begin to complain because, only God can forgive sins.  So Jesus, knowing their thoughts, poses this question.  Is it easier to say, "your sins are forgiven," which can't be  proven or argued with this side of heaven.  Or is it easier to say, "get up, take your mat and leave"?  Which would really put you on the spot ('cause if he didn't get up you'd be proven a fraud).  So Jesus turns to the man and says, "get up, take your mat and go home."

Well, the man gets up, rolls up his mat and leaves.  Incredible!  A miracle right there in front of everyone!  Wow!

Have you ever thought about the man's mat?  What it represents?  What it was used for?  This man would have lived on that mat.  From the point of the accident or illness that caused his paralysis this mat was probably the man's only personal possession.  It probably wasn't in great shape.  It probably smelled.  He spend the entire day on that mat - every day.  It wasn't changed out by a nurse and he didn't get a new one every few days or when it got dirty.  He just laid on it.  He also slept on it.  He ate on it, when he ate.  It was with him all the time.  He was never without it.

Do you have anything in your life like his mat?  Perhaps an addiction that you carry around with you.  A "vice" you might call it, but it's really an addiction.  Something you go back to for comfort.  Something that makes you feel secure.  Something that you might really want to get rid of, but aren't willing to let go of.  That mat was both his comfort and his curse.  It never left him.  All day, all night it was right there with him.  Do you have something like that?  It's always with you.  You can't get rid of it.

Jesus offers not only forgiveness but freedom.  Jesus healed the man spiritually first.  But he was still on the mat.  Still addicted.  Still stuck.  Still in the same situation.  But then Jesus says, "get up."  He frees him from his mat!  He doesn't have to rely on it to keep him out of the dirt any longer.  Jesus has become His his mat, the one to rely on and trust and go everywhere with.  But notice Jesus also says, "take up your mat and go home."  You may be free from your addiction, your past, your sin, your vice.  You may not have to rely on it any longer but you will carry the reminder of where you once were forever.

What's your mat?  Are you ready to get up?  Are you tired of relying on your crutch?  Are you ready to rely on Jesus?  Ask Him to forgive your sin, to free you from your addiction, your baggage, your past, get up from your stinky, rotten, self-pitied life and start over in His strength and with Him as your crutch.  He will never let you down.  You will never forget where you once were but you never have to go back.  You can be free both spiritually and physically.  Forgiven and Freed.


NOTE:    People with disabilities in the first century were often outcasts.  Other than family no one really wanted anything to do with them.  Their only friends were others with disabilities.  For this man to have four friends may indicate that he had not been paralyzed for very long.  Perhaps a fall or an accident of some kind put him in this condition and maybe even his friends were with him when it happened, maybe even felt responsible.  That could account for their involvement in this mans life.  Typically you would expect these friends to be out working to support themselves and their families.  Had this man been paralyzed from birth he may not have had any friends at all since at a young age his family would have put him to work begging to earn his keep. Just my opinion - I could be wrong.