Mar 2:1 | KingComments | STEP | The story of the paralytic links up with that of the leper in the previous chapter. Both states, that of leprosy and that of paralysis, portray man in his sinful state, making him unfit to serve. Leprosy represents the outbreak of sin, and in the paralysis we see powerlessness resulting from sin (cf. ). Both ailments make it impossible to come into God’s presence. Yet both the leper and the paralytic come to the Lord and He causes them to be delivered from their situation and to be able to serve Him. The Lord’s service brings Him back to Capernaum. In His grace He comes to man more often than just once (cf. ), but He does so, as it were, unnoticed. He has withdrawn into the house and still avoids the public. However, it is becoming known that He is in the house. His service is already so well known that many gather in the house. The house is filled to the door with people. No one can enter anymore. And Christ serves with the Word. He has the salvation of each and every one of them in mind. That’s why He brings them God’s Word. Then a paralytic is brought to Him. This one was unable to get to the Lord himself, but he has friends who bring him to Him. They carry him, they carry him as a burden they wish to bring to Him. That is what we are allowed to do with others who are on our heart as a burden. When the friends want to bring their paralyzed friend to the Lord, they are prevented from doing so. There is a crowd that is blocking their way. The crowds are often an obstacle to getting to Christ. Now He could have made room for them to come to Him. But He doesn’t do that because it has to be shown whether they have faith. If there is faith, it also finds a way. God does not always take away obstacles, but gives a way to overcome them. But then there must be faith. Obstacles make it clear if there is faith. That’s what we see in the men. They are not discouraged, but go up on the roof. They break it open right “above Him”. Through the opening they let down the pallet on which the paralytic is lying. The first thing the Lord sees is the faith of the friends. That brings Him to action. He sees a faith that overcomes all difficulties and perseveres. This perseverance of faith is nourished by the feeling of need and by the certainty that help and strength can be found in Him Who is above all difficulties.

‏ Mark 2:1

A Paralytic Brought to the Lord

The story of the paralytic links up with that of the leper in the previous chapter. Both states, that of leprosy and that of paralysis, portray man in his sinful state, making him unfit to serve. Leprosy represents the outbreak of sin, and in the paralysis we see powerlessness resulting from sin (cf. Rom 5:6 ; 8). Both ailments make it impossible to come into God’s presence. Yet both the leper and the paralytic come to the Lord and He causes them to be delivered from their situation and to be able to serve Him.

The Lord’s service brings Him back to Capernaum. In His grace He comes to man more often than just once (cf. Job 33:14), but He does so, as it were, unnoticed. He has withdrawn into the house and still avoids the public. However, it is becoming known that He is in the house. His service is already so well known that many gather in the house. The house is filled to the door with people. No one can enter anymore. And Christ serves with the Word. He has the salvation of each and every one of them in mind. That’s why He brings them God’s Word.

Then a paralytic is brought to Him. This one was unable to get to the Lord himself, but he has friends who bring him to Him. They carry him, they carry him as a burden they wish to bring to Him. That is what we are allowed to do with others who are on our heart as a burden.

When the friends want to bring their paralyzed friend to the Lord, they are prevented from doing so. There is a crowd that is blocking their way. The crowds are often an obstacle to getting to Christ. Now He could have made room for them to come to Him. But He doesn’t do that because it has to be shown whether they have faith. If there is faith, it also finds a way.

God does not always take away obstacles, but gives a way to overcome them. But then there must be faith. Obstacles make it clear if there is faith. That’s what we see in the men. They are not discouraged, but go up on the roof. They break it open right “above Him”. Through the opening they let down the pallet on which the paralytic is lying.

The first thing the Lord sees is the faith of the friends. That brings Him to action. He sees a faith that overcomes all difficulties and perseveres. This perseverance of faith is nourished by the feeling of need and by the certainty that help and strength can be found in Him Who is above all difficulties.