Written by Mark Driskill:

Read Mark 2:1-5

In his book, “The irresistible Revolution” Shane Claiborne tells of a time when he and some friends actually went rappelling from the top of their college dormitory into the windows. He later received a letter from the Dean encouraging him to use the doors next time, like everyone else. He then tells how he related this story in a graduation speech. He used it to illustrate how followers of Christ are to live by faith. Rather than going through the doors like the rest of the world, we are to take a new and creative route into the kingdom of God. Going through the doors is easy and less risky, but the new way of faith is a lot more fun, he says.

Isn’t it true that the life of faith often leads us to take creative, and sometimes messy steps? Consider our scripture today. Four men want to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus. But since the house is full they can’t get to him because of the crowds. Sounds like our situation today doesn’t it? So many people need to get to Jesus, but often find themselves crowded out by the folks who just want to keep getting fed, making no room for anyone outside their box. Anyway, these guys, rather than give up or sit outside waiting for things to change, decide to take, what I want to call the Claiborne approach. They get up on the roof and get creative. Meanwhile Jesus is teaching the masses until he notices plaster and mud falling into his hair. People are ducking, Pharisees are shaking their tassels, and Jesus is grinning. Yes, that’s right folks, the Son of God grinned. Maybe he even laughed while he was wiping the mud out of his eyes and hair. He looks up at four nervous men lowering one really scared paralytic, who was hoping they wouldn’t drop him.

Then the scripture says, “When he saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘son your sins are forgiven.’” I believe Jesus loves it when we let faith lead us to do creative and risky things. I’m not encouraging foolhardiness…necessarily. I’m just saying that I’m thankful today that that paralytic was not in the care of scribes and Pharisees. They may have taken him back home when they saw the crowds or laid him outside and gone on in for their own spiritual feeding. But the four men did what we all need to do. They got creative and went up on the roof to get that man to Jesus. They didn’t mind disturbing a church service to do the service of the church. They didn’t mind making a holy mess for the sake of a friend. Are you willing to get on the roof and make a holy mess for someone who can’t get past the religious crowd and find Jesus?

I wonder today how many people have been left standing outside our churches because ministering to them would require that we change what we are doing in church. I wonder how many could be brought in if we were willing to tear out the ceilings and make a way for those who cannot come into church through the normal means or fit into our church culture. I love how eager Jesus is to give healing and forgiveness. Without hearing any confession or explanation, without any application for membership or statement of faith he just says to the man, “Son, your sins are forgiven…” then heals him and sends him skipping home with his friends laughing about the greatest adventure of their lives. That’s what Jesus wants to do with us. He wants to get us up on the roof tops to do creative acts of faith so he can send us out changed and filled with joy.

Challenge: Who do you know whose circumstances keep them from getting into
the fellowship of the church? Pray for some holy creativity as you seek a
way to help them get to Jesus.

Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.

Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.