Reflecting on Mark's Gospel - Mark 2:1-12

Capernaum was one of the early centres of Jesus’ ministry, situated beside Lake Galilee, and so a great base for fishing. It also was probably where Jesus first attracted a crowd. His reputation is getting round, and now so many people come to the house that it is over-crowded and it’s impossible to get close to Jesus unless you got there early, and especially if you have the complication of carrying your paralysed friend on some sort of mattress and stranger.

This is the story of four friends who are determined to get their disabled companion into a direct encounter with Jesus. He desperately needs healing and they believe that Jesus can do what’s necessary. So, in a rather extreme measure they got on to the roof, not difficult as there would be steps and people would go on to the roof. However, they then create a hole in the roof and lower their friend into the house to get him close enough to Jesus. They feel confident that Jesus’ will recognise the deep need of this man and do something about it.

This is in line with the comment made by José Cárdenas Pallares (A Poor Man Called Jesus: Reflections on the Gospel of Mark) – “Jesus cannot be indifferent to human humiliation. He dines with publicans and sinners because they are the ones in need of relief; they are the ones who need emergency assistance.”

Jesus recognises, and is moved by, the faith that is demonstrated here. Faith is important, and it is worth our noting what it achieves in this incident. It is also fascinating that Jesus deals with the whole situation. He does provide physical healing, but the more important element is the spiritual healing. He talks about forgiveness, an obvious link with the message and baptism of John in the wilderness. John had called those who came to hear him to repentance. Repenting is needed in order to find forgiveness. Jesus wants this man to be whole in every way, something which Jesus wants for every one of us. So, Jesus pronounces forgiveness. He then tells him to stand up and walk, something he had clearly not done for a long time. This is the ‘icing on the cake’ in this instance. His healing is physical, as well as spiritual. We need to recognise that things are not always like that, and it can be difficult when the physical healing is missing. But the promise that God offers into our chaotic and messy lives is to be with us, and to walk with us the different ways which we find ourselves treading.

The really important thing is that Jesus introduces us to the wonder of God’s sustaining presence, and he is particularly concerned to open things up for the excluded. As Pallares puts it – “Jesus’ forgiveness is the power to demolish whatever excludes people from acceptance. Jesus’ friendship with sinners demonstrates his power to forgive. Jesus has not come to reinforce society’s barriers but to overthrow them. …. Jesus’ power is at the service of men and women who are thoroughly marginalised.”

The people are amazed. They did not see this one coming. The man who only gets there because his friends carry him walks away unaided. They were surprised, but not so that they forgot to praise God. How do we react when God surprises us? (And do you think we ever miss some of God’s surprises because we don’t notice them?)