After Jesus had completed his tour of the synagogues he returned to Capernaum to rest for a few days. The news got out quickly that he had arrived and soon the house was filled to overflowing with people and people even spilled out into the streets.

Into this crowd came four men carrying on a stretcher a friend of theirs who was paralyzed. So jammed was the narrow street that they could not get through. But they were as resourceful as they were determined. Thus, we read, that they climbed on top of the house and cut a hole through the roof of the house and lowered this cripple down.

For a few moments this morning I would like for us to examine the dynamics of this story by taking a look at the principle characters involved.

I

The first thing I would note would be the intercession of his friends. Most people had, of course, forgotten about this handicapped man, but there were those who had not forgotten. They took the time and they made the effort to go out and get him and bring him to Jesus. I wish that we knew their names, but they did what they did not for recognition, but because they cared. They not only desired to see Jesus for themselves, they wanted others to see him. They thus became co-participants in the miracle that was about to take place.

Do you know how biologists evaluate life? It is in terms of the capacity to experience pain. The more the pain, the higher the life form. A worm experiences little pain, but a dog can actually experience moods. Have you ever noticed that? Haven't you ever seen a dog pout? Dogs can actually grieve over people, and I understand that over at the tracts in West Memphis there are some people who grieve over dogs. I'm not sure.

Scientist say that man is at the top of the biological scale because he has the keenest ability to experience pain. What separates us from the animals, I would suggest, is not primarily our ability to feel pain, it is our ability to feel pain vicariously for others. Thanks be to God that this unfortunate cripple had friends who genuinely cared and felt for him. Now, how important are friends? If you read the story closely you will discover that this man’s forgiveness and his healing was based on faith, but not his faith. He was forgiven and healed because of the faith of these friends. It reads: When Jesus saw their faith.

What would we do without friends? You will remember Jackie Robinson as the first black man to play Major League baseball. In his first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Robinson faced venom nearly everywhere he traveled. Pitchers threw fastballs at his head. Runners spiked him on the bases, brutal epithets were written on cards and spoken from the opposing dugouts. Even the home crowds in Brooklyn saw him as an object of reproach. During one game in Boston, the taunts and racial slurs seemed to reach a peak. To make matters worse Robinson committed an error and stood at second base humiliated while the fans hurled insults at him. Another Dodger, a Southern white man by the name Pee Wee Reese, called timeout. He walked from his position at shortstop toward Robinson at second base, and with the crowds looking on, he put his arm around Robinson's shoulder. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career.

What would we do without friends and family members who care and who under-gird us with strength when we need it. No, they cannot perform a miracle and make us well again when we are sick. No, they cannot bring back a loved one who has passed away. But friends can offer a ministry of presence. They can be there when we need them, and that means a lot. This cripple could not have received healing without the faith of his friends.

II

The second personality in the story was the crowd who prevented the cripple from seeing Jesus. I say that because I think that crowds, like churches, have personalities, just like individuals. Look what they did. They actually kept this poor unfortunate from getting to Jesus. Oh, it was unintentional. There were simply too many people and he could not possibly get in the house. But this illustrates something that we need to hear. We, the church, are sometimes not the solution, but we are a part of the problem.

Several years ago there was a life guard’s convention in New Orleans. As the party was in progress a guest, 31 year old Jerome Moody, feel in the pool and drowned. The over 200 life guards in attendance were stunned by the irony. This hints to our problem.

I cannot endorse much of the evangelism on T. V. these days by the charismatic church. The Charismatic Church in general is doing great things throughout the world and it is the fastest growing movement in Christianity. But TBN and that whole crowd really turn my stomach. I must sadly confess that the reason the Pentecostal movement is growing so rapidly is that it represents some of the church’s unpaid bills. We too often in the main line denominations have not offered people what they are seeking. Like the crowd in the story, we unintentionally have become a barrier to people coming come to Jesus. Our complacency and lack of enthusiasm for our beliefs are the bricks and mortar.

We need to ask ourselves: is the system reaching others for Christ or are we simply meeting one another’s agenda. We somehow have to get beyond routine and maintenance to let people know that we care about them as persons and that we care about their souls. Oh yes, the paralyzed man did see Jesus. A hole was cut through the roof of the house and he was lowered in. But we dare not forget that he saw Jesus despite of, and not because of the help of, the crowd, which, tragically so often represents the church.

Tony Compolo wrote about an experience he had while at a convention in Hawaii. Having Jet lag he went for a walk at two in the morning. Having stopped at a greasy spoon he over heard the conversation of some ladies of the evening [prostitutes]. One of them stated that tomorrow would be her birthday. When they left Compolo worked an agreement with the owner and cook of the diner to throw a birthday party. It was a very powerful event in the life of this lost woman and everyone was moved by the experience. After the lady of the evening left, Tony suggested that they all bow their heads and pray. No one knew that Compolo was minister. When the prayer was over the cook called Tony over and said, “Hey, are you some kind of preacher or something.” “Yes, I am,” Tony said. Then the cook, with a sneer in his voice, said, “What kind a church do you belong to?” Tony said he had one of those moments when the perfect word comes to you. He said, “I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes in three in morning.” The cook looked at him and said, “No you don’t. No you don’t. Cause if you did I would go to that church.”

Wouldn’t we all want to belong to church like that? A church that doesn’t block the doors but opens itself up to all who would come in. That’s the kind of church I want to go to.

III

The third personality in the story is the cripple, to understand his plight, we must first realize that in the world of Jesus health and theology were viewed as inseparable. If you were sick it was because God was angry with you because of some sin. This was demonstrated in that scene in which Jesus confronted a blind man. The disciples asked (the disciples now, not the Pharisees): Master, who sinned that this man was born blind? Was it he or his parents?

They thought that this man was cripple because he had done something to invoke the wrath of God. And after hearing that for years the man perhaps began to believe it himself. He may not have been sure of what it was that he did do, but it must of been a terrible sin because he sure was paying for it.

Well, I am sure that there were those in the crowd who said glibly: he made his bed, let him lie in it. It is so easy to criticize those in a state that we are not in. All those homeless people . . they are out there on the streets by choice you know. Convicts--what I would do is to throw the key away on them. This cripple man represents the disenfranchised people of society. The people that we would just as soon not deal with. But notice that, even if this man had done something to bring his condition upon himself, Jesus did not condemn him. Jesus realizes that this man's condition is more self-imposed than medical. He did not take advantage of this captive one-man audience to lecture him on the virtue of taking control of one's life, making something of yourself, doing the right thing.

No, he didn't do any of those things. Instead, he says, “Son, Be of good Cheer. Your sins are forgiven.” In these words we can discern the root of the man's illness, and of ours. He, like ourselves, was paralyzed by sin. His first paralysis is not physical but spiritual. So, Jesus offers him forgiveness. Afterwards he is healed and walks, but only afterwards. While the physical healing was a miracle; it was the healing of the man’s relationship with God that becomes the lesson for us this morning. Jesus’ actions scandalized the scribes. How dare he forgive sins? That’s God’s prerogative. In their narrow view, Jesus insulted God, by pronouncing forgiveness upon this man.

The healing that needed to take place was medical by nature. He needed to be healed of his paralysis. Please don’t misunderstand that. But more than this, he had a theological need. The scribes did not mind Jesus taking care of the man’s medical need but they could not forgive his dabbling in the theological.

What about the crowd? We are told that the crowd marveled at what they saw. In Mark's Gospel the people reply: "We never saw it in this fashion before.” And no one ever has sense.

Any minister who takes preaching in earnest cannot look out over congregations like this, Sunday after Sunday, without thinking of all the unadvertised needs that must exist beneath our respectable exteriors. I also cannot stand before you this morning without thinking of all the unfulfilled dreams represented by our lives not to mention the lives paralyzed by hurts and fears and sicknesses. But deepest of all, more than these, the unforgiven sins! There must be many here this morning. I ask you. Go down into that secret place. Unlock that hidden door. Take out that unforgiven sin. For your soul’s sake, get rid of it!

But there is only one way. You must go to Capernaum. To the home of Jesus and even if the crowds stand in your way you must find a way. Even if it means tearing a hole in the roof. Then, being lowered to his feet, do your penitence, make your confession, experience restitution, and find your pardon. Amen.