Bearers of the Mat

Mark 2: 1-12

2When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 3Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7“Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? 10But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the paralytic— 11“I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” 12And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Historical Context

The roof of a Palestinian house could be reached via steps outside. A roof, which was flat, was made of sticks covered with hardened mud. In Judaism, certain sins could be forgiven by God if the sinner was sorry for what he had done, acknowledged the deed, and was resolute in not doing it again, but here Jesus forgives because of the faith of the mat-bearers.

Theme: Bearers of the Mat

Mark concludes his account of the healing of the paralyzed man with the statement, “all were amazed and were glorifying God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this’” (Mark 2:12). The story is told of an old Jewish Rabbi who had a dream. In his dream he was given the chance to visit heaven and hell. As he entered the door to hell he was surprised. In his dream he saw a banquet hall lined with tables. In the middle of each table was a bowl filled with delicious food.

Each person had been given a spoon and the only way they were allowed access to the food was by use of their spoon. The spoon was long enough to reach the food, but too long to put in their own mouths. The people sat there weeping and wailing as they starved. The horror of the scene was so great the old Rabbi asked to leave. His next stop was heaven.

As he entered heaven he was surprised again. It was exactly the same setting. He was in a banquet hall. People were sitting around tables and in the middle of each table was a bowl filled with delicious food. Again, each person had a spoon and the only way they were allowed access to the food was by use of their spoon. As he stood there watching, he observed the banquet hall was filled with laughter, and he could feel the excitement of the people. They were celebrating the privilege of feeding each other.

Jesus wants His followers to serve one another willingly and wholeheartedly. Let’s become bearers of the mat!