So many gathered that there was no longer space, not even near the door. Jesus was speaking the word to them.

Some people arrived, and four of them were bringing to him a man who was paralyzed.

They couldn't carry him through the crowd, so they tore off part of the roof above where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they lowered the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 

"Child, your sins are forgiven!"

Mark 2:2-5 CEB

What strikes you about this story?

The crowded space, where no one made room for the person who is paralysed?

The determination of this person's friends who advocated and fought for him to make a way?

In our often individualistic world, that there was something about their combined faith that moved Jesus to heal?

Or perhaps it was that this group had to fight, to resist, to push through barriers to get to Jesus?

When God seems silent, hard to find, when we need to fight something, to resist, to act in faith even if we're not sure of the outcome to connect or reconnect with Him, maybe there's something for us in this story.

Jesus could've just "known" this person was outside, known their faith, but waited for their expression, their resistance against the things separating them from Him.

He valued their faith and their resistance.

What strikes you?

#gospelofMark

#faith

#resist