“Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.”  – Mark 2:3-4

Whenever I read this week’s passage from Mark, I can’t help but notice the effort of the friends of the paralyzed man to get him to Jesus. Long walk? No problem. Crowds blocking the way? No problem. Roof between us and Jesus? No problem.

The relentless nature of their effort stands out.

But I’ve been thinking this week about a part of the story that isn’t included in Mark’s narrative, the moment where the friends of the paralyzed man choose not to turn away from his condition, and instead open their hearts to offer a compassionate response, despite the risk that bringing him out into the open posed to their own well-being and social status, the moment where they let their faith in the healing power of Jesus be bigger than their fear.

It is in that moment where this story of healing really begins.

We’ll spend some time Sunday at 11am digging a little deeper into this insight and exploring how we can use it to usher in a new heaven and a new earth, together.

Sending peace and love,
Andrea