Have you ever felt stuck? Not stuck like a math problem you can’t seem to solve or stuck in the long line at a checkout. No, the kind of stuck when you think you may lose your mind. The sort of stuck feeling claustrophobic with no way out. The stuck-ness of nothing changing no matter what has been tried. Prayer, lots of prayer. Doctor appointments. Tears. Anger. Looking for a way of escape and not finding one. The day after day reality you didn’t ask for, welcome or want. And yet, there it is. Unchanging, with no end in sight.

This is what we see in Mark chapter two. Jesus‘ fame has spread, and people are coming in droves to find hope and healing. Maybe today will be the day.

Here is the scene as described by Mark 2:1-4

“And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 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.”

The home was packed out. Wall to wall people, all clamoring to see and hear the Teacher. Four men bring a paralytic to Jesus, but they cannot get in. Rather than give up, they went up. To the roof, which was accessible, but they still had more to do. A roof of hardened clay and sticks was not an effortless solution. They were determined and in spite of being weary from carrying their friend to the house and up the stairs, they persisted. I have no idea what it took for them to break through or how long it took, but I picture Jesus smiling to himself knowing what was about to take place.

“And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”-he said to the paralytic- “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” Mark 2:5-12

No, they hadn’t ever seen anything like that! Four men believed that seeing Jesus was what their friend needed to be made whole. The life their friend had experienced was one of looking to others to meet his needs. He was a prisoner confined to a mat on a dusty floor in a world where disabilities were polarizing. No access to anyone or anything. He could not walk, go to the temple and worship with the other men, and could not take care of his personal needs. Humiliating to be sure.

This man spent life on a mat. Dusty. Dirty. Distanced from life with others. People spent much of their lives growing food and crops, gathering water for themselves and their livestock. They had oil lamps, not electricity at their fingertips. Sunup to sundown. The Jewish culture revolved around Yahweh. There was not much time left for sitting with a paralyzed friend. He had to have been lonely on top of the other challenges he faced daily. Until the day Jesus came.

The paralyzed man was blessed with friends who cared enough about him and believed Jesus was the one who could help. Jesus. They put aside their personal lives to carry their friend. They went beyond getting to the house and giving up when there was no room. They made a way where there seemed to be none. They believed what they heard about Jesus. They took their friend from life on a mat to a miracle of two legs made whole. Jesus was (and is) the healer, but those four friends took the time to see him, carry him and rejoice with him. Can you imagine their animated conversations as they energetically made their way home? I see childlike enthusiasm, maybe fist pumping and high fives. They see their friend walking. They witnessed the miracle. But still! Wow God.

Are you stuck on a mat? Maybe you feel as if it was your own fault and no one would want to help. You’d feel judged or perceived as needy. Let me tell you something. We are all needy. We have all done things that created points of being stuck. Romans 3:23 says, ‘for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

Believe it. We all have been stuck at various times in life. We all know others who have been or are stuck. We need one another. Not only do we need others, but there are people who need us. Look around. Look in, look up. Reach out and be willing to receive. Be a part of the rescue of someone who needs to be supported.

In my experience, times of being stuck are painful emotionally, physically and mentally, yet the spiritual growth is phenomenal. What has been your experience? Please leave a comment below or email us at 2coronefour@gmail.com