Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:4-5)
Confronted by a completely packed house and a totally blocked doorway, a devotion that would not be denied made its way to the Master . . . for true devotion will always find a way to get to its Object.
Jesus’ reputation had preceded Him, so when He entered Capernaum, the people flocked to receive Him. Some were interested in His message, but everyone was interested in His miracles. Earlier in Mark’s gospel account we read that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town because of the frenzied mobs of people who were magnetized by His amazing ministry, a ministry unlike anything the world had ever seen. And in today’s passage, we see a paralyzed man and his four friends display a devotion that would not be denied, in spite of the wall of people blocking their way to the Master.
The question we all must ask ourselves is this: Does my commitment to my Master demonstrate this kind of sold-out, single-minded, will-not-be-denied devotion, regardless of the cost or circumstance? I am convinced that this is exactly what the church needs today if we are going to fulfill the two greatest commandments—to love God faithfully and love our neighbor completely. We must demonstrate a disruptive and a disturbing devotion, just like the men in our story. Picture yourself sitting in that packed house, straining to hear every word from Jesus. Can you imagine just how disruptive and disturbing the devotion of thee five men was, as they dug through the roof and dust and debris began dropping onto the crowd below?
Let us all prayerfully consider this day how we can amp up a devotion that will not be denied. Let nothing block the way between you and your Master, and let nothing stand in the way of you bringing others to sit at His feet. To be sure, we should begin by knocking on the door or climbing through an open window, but if we cannot make entry, let us stop at nothing to get ourselves and our neighbors into the presence of the One who stopped at nothing to get to us—going all the way to the cross and to the grave so that we would be with Him for eternity. May we, like our Lord, demonstrate a divine devotion that will not be denied.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 