I just read Mark 2:1-4 and something new really hit me. Read it and see if something stands out to you: “When He (Jesus) had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.” (NASB).
I don’t think I’ve ever realized that the house where the roof was taken off was Jesus’ own home! (At least that’s what is inferred.) That stood out to me. It may be that because of the way the roofs were made–with more temporary things (like branches or mud) than we use, etc– that it’s no big deal to repair it, but I can’t help but think that if Jesus had a different attitude, he could have thought (or said!), “Hey, don’t do that! Now I’ll have to repair it and that will take time away from me preaching God’s good news!”
But He didn’t. It came across to me about Jesus’ total commitment for whatever would minister to people. I’m not so sure I would want my house torn up for the cause but Jesus didn’t stop the four friends from fighting for the health of his friend. Am I willing to give up everything, even a roof, to do God’s work? It’s a challenging question for me.