I sank into the large green couch chair with my Bible in hand. The other girls gradually came into the homey living room and settled into their own seats. It kinda felt like I was back in the States, waiting for a typical women’s Bible study to commence.
After a moment, we dove in, reading the scripture we’d be studying.
The story of the paralytic. A story I’ve heard a handful of times. A story I didn’t think had enough depth for a whole Bible study.
And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:2-5 ESV
What stands out to you in this story? I seem to cling to the obvious. Their faith.
After we read what appeared to be pretty self explanatory, Janele explained what we were actually going to focus on.
Not the paralytic, turns out. We were going to talk about the 4 men that carried him to Jesus.
Interesting. I wasn’t sure where this was going initially.
The process it took for them to get that paralytic to Jesus. That’s where this was going.
But let’s start here. Who were the 4 men, first of all? The scripture never clarifies.
Acquaintances? Surely not, at least not in my mind. Why would 4 strangers take so much effort to heal a man they didn’t know?
Family? Possibly. The close relationship with family could explain the act of love. It somehow comes easier with blood relatives.
Friends? We don’t know. But if it was, the effort they took to help their friend is pretty incredible.
So, we have no idea who these guys are, which I actually love about it. It removes assumptions that come with the context of the relationship. Like the assumptions I just made
We moved forward addressing them as friends.
Janele started to explain what it probably took for those 4 friends to carry this man onto the roof of the house.
They probably needed some sort of ladder. Imaging trying to carry a man that literally can’t move, up a ladder.
She continued to explain that roofs in that time were most likely made of particles of thatch, and mud. Piece by piece, the 4 probably took apart that roof, determined to get the paralytic in Jesus’ reach.
The roof is now a gaping hole. They must have needed something to lower him down on his bed into the house as all the crowd watched.
Think about the effort that all took.
Janele switched gears and brought it to a personal perspective. After we talked through the grit those men had to make sure Jesus could heal him, she coined them as rooftop friends.
What characteristics or qualities would you want in a rooftop friend?
I listed a couple things that are important to me.
Authentic
Loyal
Someone I’m comfortable with
I thought about the few friends in my life that I consider rooftop friends. I thought about how thankful and grateful I am for them. I thought about how much I can’t wait to see them when I get back to the States.
My thoughts were interrupted by another question.
Do you consider yourself a rooftop friend?
Yikes. Wasn’t expecting that one.
I thought for a moment, but it didn’t take me long to come up with an answer.
No, I don’t, actually.
I think in some ways I am and have been a rooftop friend. When it comes to the characteristics I think are important.
But I think in more ways I choose myself over others.
I think back to just a few weeks ago, when sharing a tent ruined my night [read more about that blog here]. I think back to the times when sharing anything annoyed me. I think about the times I’d rather go hide in solitude than commune with a group of friends.
Convicting.
I want to get to a place in life where I naturally choose selflessness. Where sharing a tent doesn’t even make me flinch. I wanted to be generous and willing to share the things I have. I want to choose community in moments where it seems like a burden, because I know community is where so much growth happens.
Let me finish by asking you.
Do you consider yourself a rooftop friend?
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