“He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’”
Mark 2:12
Ancient sailors recorded many times that in the midst of a coming storm the top of their ship’s mast would be circled with a mysterious circle of light. Many times their hair would begin to stand straight out from their heads as this light appeared. They called it St. Elmo’s Fire. Any experienced sailor knew it was then time to take cover because the air was so electrically charged that a lightning strike was imminent.
The air must have been so charged in Capernaum at the time this Scripture passage took place. There was a crowd, and this crowd was curious about the ministry of Jesus. Scribes surely were scowling as they watched this new Rabbi closely, hoping that they could catch Him in an error. The room was charged with excitement. Everyone knew that something dramatic was about to take place. It was not St. Elmo’s Fire; it was the King of King’s fire. For when He is present, something miraculous is going to happen.
Sure enough, excitement mounted as four men began to tear up the roof in order to let a friend down in the presence of Jesus so that he could be healed. The Bible says they literally “took off the roof.” When our group of believers gather, it ought to be a “roof-raising experience.” And we too should be able to say, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”
According to this passage, three things are needed to have a “roof-raising” experience with Jesus:
We must have a Savior who can save.
We must have a preacher who can preach.
We must have a flock who has faith.
Prayer Focus: Pray that Grace Gathering will be filled with people of faith like these four roof removers, for they did everything possible to bring their friend to Jesus. Ask the Lord to make you like one of these four.
