Tear Off The Roof, The Kings In The House
Tear Off the Roof: The Power of Friendship and Faith
What would you do for a friend in desperate need? How far would you go to help someone experience transformation?
In the Gospel of Mark, we encounter one of the most vivid demonstrations of friendship and faith in all of Scripture. Four men carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus, and when they couldn't get through the crowded house, they literally tore through the roof and lowered him down. This wasn't just determination—it was faith in action.
When the Crowd Becomes the Obstacle
The scene in Capernaum was chaotic. Jesus had returned to town, and word spread quickly. The house where He was teaching became so packed that people spilled out into the street, crowding around the door just to catch a glimpse of Him or hear His words.
Then came four friends, carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They had one mission: get their friend to Jesus. But the religious crowd—the very people who already believed—blocked their path. The people listening to the sermon were inadvertently keeping someone from meeting Jesus.
This raises a profound question for us today: Are we inviting people to church, or are we inviting them to Jesus? There's a significant difference.
Church attendance is wonderful, but it's incomplete if people don't actually encounter Christ. Sometimes our religious gatherings, our comfort zones, and our established routines can become obstacles rather than pathways to Jesus. We fill the room with those who already know Him while others remain outside, unable to get through.
Refusing to Give Up
These four friends could have given up at multiple points. When they saw the crowd, they could have said, "We tried," and taken their friend back to his usual begging spot. They could have decided their own comfort mattered more than his healing. They could have worried about the social consequences of their actions.
Instead, they climbed onto the roof. They dug through it—likely causing significant property damage. They didn't care about the homeowner's reaction or what people might think. They cared about getting their friend to Jesus.
This is what real friendship looks like. Proverbs 17:17 tells us, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." True friendship doesn't quit when things get difficult. It doesn't let obstacles determine the outcome.
Four Ways to Carry Your Friends to Jesus
How can we embody this kind of friendship today? How do we become the type of people who will tear off the roof for those we care about?
First, we carry them in prayer. Before we do anything else, we enter the spiritual battlefield on their behalf. We lift them up to the One who can actually transform their lives. Prayer isn't passive—it's the most powerful action we can take.
Second, we refuse to give up. We don't back off when they say no the first time, or the tenth time. We remain committed to their spiritual wellbeing regardless of how long it takes. Their eternal destiny matters more than our temporary discomfort.
Third, we push past obstacles. Maybe they say they're too busy, or they don't have a ride, or they don't have the right clothes. We remove those barriers. We pick them up. We meet them where they are. We don't let logistics or excuses become permanent roadblocks.
Fourth, we care more about salvation than social comfort. Are we willing to be called "Jesus freaks" or "Bible beaters"? Are we willing to walk past our friends at church to greet a newcomer? Are we willing to bring someone who doesn't look like they "fit" into our religious spaces? The stakes are eternal—social discomfort is a small price to pay.
Healing From the Inside Out
When the four friends finally lowered their paralyzed companion through the roof, Jesus did something unexpected. He didn't immediately heal the man's legs. Instead, He said, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
This shocked the religious leaders present. They thought it was blasphemy. But Jesus knew something crucial: spiritual healing must come before physical healing. Unforgiven sins are more detrimental than unhealed limbs. Spiritual paralysis is worse than physical paralysis.
Jesus always heals from the inside out. He addresses the root issue first—our separation from God through sin. Only then does He work on the external circumstances.
After establishing His authority to forgive sins, Jesus told the man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." And the man did exactly that. He didn't struggle to his feet. He didn't wobble uncertainly. He got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in full view of everyone.
The power of God completely restores. It doesn't partially heal or gradually improve. When Jesus touches a life, transformation is total.
The Jesus-Sized Hole
Many people today are spiritually paralyzed. They may look successful on the outside—they have good jobs, nice homes, active social lives. But inside, they're lying on a mat, unable to fix their own condition.
We all have a Jesus-sized hole inside us. We try to fill it with things—achievements, relationships, substances, entertainment, work, possessions. These things might numb the pain temporarily or distract us for a while, but they always fall short. They're never quite the right shape or size.
The only thing that can fill a Jesus-sized hole is Jesus Himself.
A Different Kind of Invitation
Perhaps it's time to shift our approach. Instead of just saying "come and see" our church, what if we invited people to "come and be saved"?
Come and sit—experience peace in a chaotic world.
Come and strengthen—let others carry you when you have nothing left.
Come and serve—discover purpose alongside people on mission.
Come and be saved—find the healing that changes everything.
The king is in the house. That's why it's worth tearing off the roof. That's why no obstacle is too great, no crowd too thick, no social discomfort too awkward. When you know the king is in the house, you do whatever it takes to get people to Him.
Who in your life needs to be carried to Jesus today? Will you pick up their mat?
What would you do for a friend in desperate need? How far would you go to help someone experience transformation?
In the Gospel of Mark, we encounter one of the most vivid demonstrations of friendship and faith in all of Scripture. Four men carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus, and when they couldn't get through the crowded house, they literally tore through the roof and lowered him down. This wasn't just determination—it was faith in action.
When the Crowd Becomes the Obstacle
The scene in Capernaum was chaotic. Jesus had returned to town, and word spread quickly. The house where He was teaching became so packed that people spilled out into the street, crowding around the door just to catch a glimpse of Him or hear His words.
Then came four friends, carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They had one mission: get their friend to Jesus. But the religious crowd—the very people who already believed—blocked their path. The people listening to the sermon were inadvertently keeping someone from meeting Jesus.
This raises a profound question for us today: Are we inviting people to church, or are we inviting them to Jesus? There's a significant difference.
Church attendance is wonderful, but it's incomplete if people don't actually encounter Christ. Sometimes our religious gatherings, our comfort zones, and our established routines can become obstacles rather than pathways to Jesus. We fill the room with those who already know Him while others remain outside, unable to get through.
Refusing to Give Up
These four friends could have given up at multiple points. When they saw the crowd, they could have said, "We tried," and taken their friend back to his usual begging spot. They could have decided their own comfort mattered more than his healing. They could have worried about the social consequences of their actions.
Instead, they climbed onto the roof. They dug through it—likely causing significant property damage. They didn't care about the homeowner's reaction or what people might think. They cared about getting their friend to Jesus.
This is what real friendship looks like. Proverbs 17:17 tells us, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." True friendship doesn't quit when things get difficult. It doesn't let obstacles determine the outcome.
Four Ways to Carry Your Friends to Jesus
How can we embody this kind of friendship today? How do we become the type of people who will tear off the roof for those we care about?
First, we carry them in prayer. Before we do anything else, we enter the spiritual battlefield on their behalf. We lift them up to the One who can actually transform their lives. Prayer isn't passive—it's the most powerful action we can take.
Second, we refuse to give up. We don't back off when they say no the first time, or the tenth time. We remain committed to their spiritual wellbeing regardless of how long it takes. Their eternal destiny matters more than our temporary discomfort.
Third, we push past obstacles. Maybe they say they're too busy, or they don't have a ride, or they don't have the right clothes. We remove those barriers. We pick them up. We meet them where they are. We don't let logistics or excuses become permanent roadblocks.
Fourth, we care more about salvation than social comfort. Are we willing to be called "Jesus freaks" or "Bible beaters"? Are we willing to walk past our friends at church to greet a newcomer? Are we willing to bring someone who doesn't look like they "fit" into our religious spaces? The stakes are eternal—social discomfort is a small price to pay.
Healing From the Inside Out
When the four friends finally lowered their paralyzed companion through the roof, Jesus did something unexpected. He didn't immediately heal the man's legs. Instead, He said, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
This shocked the religious leaders present. They thought it was blasphemy. But Jesus knew something crucial: spiritual healing must come before physical healing. Unforgiven sins are more detrimental than unhealed limbs. Spiritual paralysis is worse than physical paralysis.
Jesus always heals from the inside out. He addresses the root issue first—our separation from God through sin. Only then does He work on the external circumstances.
After establishing His authority to forgive sins, Jesus told the man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." And the man did exactly that. He didn't struggle to his feet. He didn't wobble uncertainly. He got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in full view of everyone.
The power of God completely restores. It doesn't partially heal or gradually improve. When Jesus touches a life, transformation is total.
The Jesus-Sized Hole
Many people today are spiritually paralyzed. They may look successful on the outside—they have good jobs, nice homes, active social lives. But inside, they're lying on a mat, unable to fix their own condition.
We all have a Jesus-sized hole inside us. We try to fill it with things—achievements, relationships, substances, entertainment, work, possessions. These things might numb the pain temporarily or distract us for a while, but they always fall short. They're never quite the right shape or size.
The only thing that can fill a Jesus-sized hole is Jesus Himself.
A Different Kind of Invitation
Perhaps it's time to shift our approach. Instead of just saying "come and see" our church, what if we invited people to "come and be saved"?
Come and sit—experience peace in a chaotic world.
Come and strengthen—let others carry you when you have nothing left.
Come and serve—discover purpose alongside people on mission.
Come and be saved—find the healing that changes everything.
The king is in the house. That's why it's worth tearing off the roof. That's why no obstacle is too great, no crowd too thick, no social discomfort too awkward. When you know the king is in the house, you do whatever it takes to get people to Him.
Who in your life needs to be carried to Jesus today? Will you pick up their mat?
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