Roof-Breaking Faith
I’ve noticed that sometimes, when I hear a Bible story I’ve heard many times before, I tend to skip over the details. For example, in Luke 5:17–39 we read the story of the men who lowered their paralyzed friend through the roof so he could reach Jesus and be healed. When you stop and really think about it, this story is full of moving parts that teach powerful lessons for our Christian life.
1. When word spread through their village that Jesus was coming, everyone wanted a “ticket.” Can you imagine if Jesus were coming to Buda? His miracles were well-known, and these men had to realize the crowd would be massive. Yet they put aside their own potential needs for a miracle in order to see their friend healed. Imagine trying to carry a stretcher through a huge crowd—it’s hard enough just walking through a crowd if your goal is to reach the “stage.” Still, they were willing to face the struggle and do whatever it took to bring their friend to Jesus.
2. When they arrived and saw how difficult it would be, they didn’t give up and say, “We tried, but this is too hard, or it will take too much time.” Their devotion to their friend’s healing went beyond any personal cost.
3. Once they decided to try the roof, even though many Jewish homes had exterior ladders for roof access, I wonder how easy it was to carry a man on a stretcher up a ladder! And did they happen to bring tools—like a saw or hatchet—to cut through the roof?
4. On top of that, they must have considered the risk of criticism for damaging a neighbor’s roof, as well as the cost of repairing it later. And what would the crowd think of them forcing their way in?
5. Finally, they had to place complete faith in Jesus—that all their effort would be rewarded by His healing power.
So, what lessons do we learn from this story?
- Saving and “healing” the lost takes real effort and sacrifice. We have to leave our comfort zones, climb ladders, and sometimes use new tools to reach those who are spiritually paralyzed without Jesus.
- Winning souls requires determination. The way isn’t always easy, and we can’t quit when results aren’t immediate. It takes strength—sometimes physical strength to carry a hurting friend, but always spiritual strength to stay faithful to the task.
- We must also be willing to face criticism or negative reactions. Evangelism today is often seen as politically incorrect. More than ever, sharing Christ requires courage.
- And above all, we must keep our eyes on Jesus, trusting completely that His work will be done on earth as it is in heaven when we do our part. Look at verse 20: “When Jesus saw their faith, He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’” The faith of those men touched the heart of Jesus and brought life-changing results.
In closing, isn’t it amazing how much depth can be found in what seems like a simple story? As we work together this month to further the cause of missions, let’s remember the effort, determination, strength, and courage it takes to “carry” our world to Jesus—the only one who brings true healing and life-changing results.