Mark 2:4-5
“They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above His head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’”
When the friends arrive at the home where Jesus is preaching, they encounter a barrier getting to Him—the crowd. Instead of turning away, the friends decide to do something completely unconventional; something risky, dangerous, and difficult. They go through the roof! They were doing everything in their power to get their friend to Jesus.
Respond
1. As you’ve taken time to start praying for your list of ‘mat-bound’ friends, now ask the question, “what’s standing in the way?” Ask God to show you if there’s any unnecessary barrier that’s making it difficult to get your friend to Jesus, including your own desire to be accepted by them. Ask God to help you do the hard work of becoming a roof-wrecker.
2. Reflect on any ways you might be serving as the crowd in these verses. Have you prioritized the experience of those inside the house over those who desperately need to get into it? Are there any ways you may be so focused on something—even a good something—that you have forgotten to turn around and see those that need to be brought in? Confess those to God and ask for renewed eyes.