The other day I invited a young man to church. He replied, “No, if I came to church the roof would fall in.” Some people have no desire or sense of need for Jesus. Most men think themselves whole, they feel no need of a physician or a Savior; they therefore despise or neglect Christ and His gospel. When you talk about Jesus and a place where the presence and power of God is, some people act like a cat on a hot tin roof. The person, who realizes their need and is desperate, will not delay in getting to Jesus who can make them whole. I say, “Let the roof fall in! If you have to, tear it apart. Just get to Jesus.”

Consider what brought this paralyzed man healing and wholeness.
First, HE HAD FRIENDS WHO KNEW HOW TO GET HIM TO JESUS. This man was unable to help himself. He allowed friends of compassion to carry him to Jesus. The church – friends who know God can get you to Jesus.

Did you ever see the children’s illustration of a church? You clasp your hands together and say, “Here’s the church, here’s the steeple, open up and see all the people.” The church is called “God’s building”, “the body of Christ”, “the household of God”, “a holy temple in the Lord”, Jesus Christ being the “chief cornerstone”. (See Ephesians 2:11-22.) The church is to be linked together in unity and love, to worship God, and bring their friends to a loving Savior. You need friends who know how to get you to Jesus.

Second, THESE FRIENDS WERE DETERMINED. When they brought their friend to Jesus, they discovered that the house was so full of people that they couldn’t get in. Most people would have went away disappointed. These friends wouldn’t give up. Don’t allow the crowd to keep you from Jesus and your healing.

Third, THESE FRIENDS RAZEDTHE ROOF. They carried their friend to the roof, chopped a hole in it, and lowered the sick man down into the presence of Jesus. Don’t allow obstacles to keep you from the Jesus who can make you whole. Raze the roof! Through faith, prayer, repentance, and praise get in the presence of God. Press through the crowded opinions of people.

Fourth, JESUS SAW ‘THEIR’ FAITH. Jesus wasn’t angry or bothered when the roof fell in. “Seeing their faith . . .” (Mark 2:5). If your faith is weak, get friends who have faith and determination. True and strong faith may work in various ways; but it will always be accepted and approved by Jesus Christ.

Fifth, JESUS FORGAVE HIS SINS. “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My son your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5 NLT). It’s interesting that instead of first healing the man Jesus pronounced his sins forgiven. Matthew Henry, in his Concise Commentary On the Whole Bible, says, “Sin is the cause of all our pains and sicknesses. The way to remove the effect is to take away the cause. Pardon of sin strikes at the root of all diseases. Christ proved His power to forgive sin, by showing his power to cure the man sick of palsy. And his curing diseases was a figure of his pardoning sin, for sin is the disease of the soul; when it is pardoned, it is healed. When we see what Christ does in healing souls, we must own that we never saw the like.”

Sixth, FAITH AND OBEDIENCE BRING WHOLENESS. Jesus told the man, “Stand Up! Take up your mat and go home. Because you are healed! The man jumped up, took the mat, and pushed his way through the stunned onlookers” (Mark 2:11-12 NLT). The man took Jesus at His word, obeyed and was healed. He went down a paralyzed sinner and came up a praising saint. Obey and act on God’s word.

Seventh, HE MADE A PUBLIC DISPLAY OF HIS FAITH. He pushed through the crowd of onlookers and gave glory to God. The Bible College I attended years ago, had a policy of no PDOA between young men and women – no “Public Display of Affection”. But when you have been forgiven, healed, and made whole by Jesus, the Son of God, you can’t help but give PDOA to God. In fact we must publicly confess Christ. That’s what water baptism is about. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (See Romans 10:9-13.)

Do you need to be made whole? Raze the roof and call on Jesus who offered himself up for our sins.