Continuing the previous article’s study of Mark 2:1-12, where Jesus healed a paralyzed man (one who had to be lowered through a roof just to get to Jesus), there’s a second point I’d like to point out. However, if you’re not familiar with this account, this article will make more sense if you can pause and read that entire passage linked above. Once you’ve done so, let’s consider the first few verses of this passage.
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.
Mark 2:1-4 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.2.1-4.NIV
While it’s great to learn from Jesus and to receive blessings through Him, let’s make sure that we’re never so focused on our own needs – or our wants – that we crowd out others from those same good things. Similarly, let’s not be like those in the crowd who may have failed to look around to see who else needed to draw close to Him.
- This may mean asking about someone else’s needs (and truly listening).
- It might mean passing along blessings to others, when God has entrusted us with material goods for the purpose of redistribution.
- It could also mean setting aside our interests and preferences so that a lost person can feel more comfortable in a place where God is present.
By the way, did you notice in verse 12 that there was apparently enough room for the man to walk out (admittedly, without his four helpers)? So, what was really blocking him from getting in to see Jesus? Did the group ask the crowd for a chance to get by them and was refused? I don’t know.
My wife and I were talking once about how some people are opposed to Christianity because of what they’ve experienced from the church (i.e., bad examples), but they’ve never really learned the truth about what Jesus is like, because those who called themselves Christians behaved quite differently from Jesus Christ, Himself. I was wondering, when we represent God in the wrong way, are we taking His name in vain? (See Exodus 20:7) By saying that we are a Christian and yet not showing God’s love to others, are we implying by our actions that this is what God is like? Something to ponder.
By the way, for those in the crowd who were judging Jesus (see verses 6-7), I think that we can also conclude that their presence near Jesus was at least part of the reason that the paralyzed man couldn’t get to Him. Of course, they were welcome to learn from Jesus, and I hope that some of them let His words get past their preconceptions that day, and took them to heart. And, let’s be fair: they were correct that only God could forgive sins. They just didn’t appreciate that Jesus was God. However, as those looking at this event from an outside perspective, let’s also be sure that we’re not letting those who are opposed to Jesus stand in the way of lost people seeking Him, blocking their view.
For those who try to block lost people from seeing a full view of Jesus (whether atheists, skeptics, secular humanists, materialists, Internet trolls, or others), we could attempt to go through them, trying to debate and refute their logic. We could focus on showing where their arguments break down. And, while I don’t think that you can necessarily “argue” a given person to Christ, there is a time and a place for rational and polite conversation. (Paul showed us that at Athens, for instance.) However, there are times when I think that we just need to make another path, like others did for this paralyzed man. For instance, rather than merely pointing out gaps in other philosophies (which can take a lifetime, since there are more falsehoods than there are truths in this world), what if we just showed people a better way: a life lived in the joy of following Jesus, enjoying our relationship with God so much that the overflow of His love can’t help but spill out onto others?
Said another way, when we encounter obstacles to people finding Jesus in this world, maybe the answer isn’t through those who stand in their way, but rather going around them and showing people Jesus Himself. In any case, let’s ensure that we are making room for others to meet Jesus, and not getting in their way.
We might traditionally think of making room for people as providing a church service that is welcoming to visitors of all kinds (and God often blesses that). Unfortunately, though, even in a church service, we can block people from meeting Jesus by adding unnecessary rules before we allow them into our fellowship. In addition, we can also block a lost world’s view of Jesus by focusing too much on ourselves (instead of Him) in our conversations, as well as not living in a way that lets people see His love through us and not letting the Holy Spirit guide us as we go.
Instead of obstacles, though, let’s look for opportunities to go out and bring people to Jesus, or – better yet – to bring Jesus to them!
From Sunday School lesson prepared for September 14, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Mark, by Allen Black. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 