The Role of Caregivers

The Role of Caregivers

Signs & Wonders: Part 1
January 11, 2026

Mark 2:1-12

Some people arrived, and four of them were bringing to him a man who was paralyzed. They couldn’t carry him through the crowd, so they tore off part of the roof above where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they lowered the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven!”                                                               

~ Mark 2:3-5

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Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do with the miracle stories in scripture.  We don’t see such supernatural outcomes as readily today, which can lead to two extremes.  On one hand, we can be dismissive of those who have experienced miracles in their lives.  On the other, the absence of a miracle can lead to guilt or shame about the strength of our faith.  Neither response is helpful.  Whether we believe in literal miracles or not, these stories invite us into active participation in bringing about the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. 

This week’s miracle story involves a paralyzed man being lowered through the roof of the home where Jesus was staying.  We can imagine the outrage if such a scene occurred today: property damaged, rules broken, people cutting in line.

There are always barriers for people trying to get the care they need.  Some face more than others.  But instead of working to create more accessible systems, we often criticize those who try to work around the system just to meet their basic needs.  Sometimes caregivers must take creative or unconventional steps, especially when fighting for those who cannot advocate for themselves. 

Jesus does not turn them away.  He sees their faith and resolve.  He also sees their love and care for their friend and extends compassion by healing the paralyzed man. 

Interestingly, the legal experts in the story are not concerned with the caregiver’s methods either.  They are concerned that Jesus essentially “upgrades” the paralyzed man’s status, seemingly without authority.  In the ancient worldview, long-term illness was often tied to sin.  But by declaring the man forgiven, Jesus removes blame for his condition and affirms that no one is ever excluded from God’s mercy.  The healing becomes a sign that forgiveness and dignity are already granted.

In systems that are constantly overwhelmed and unable to meet every need, we still struggle with questions of who is deserving of care, who should be prioritized, who can afford it, and who is put on hold or cut off entirely.  Such questions should not be necessary, and they never come with easy answers.  But Jesus reminds us that when it comes to caring for basic human needs, there is no stigma, no shame, and no sin that can separate a person from the mercy and love of God.  He shows us that healthcare is not a political issue, but a human one, and one that God cares deeply about.

 Whose mat is God asking you to carry right now? 

 And in what ways do you need others to carry you?

Get Up and Walk

Get Up and Walk

Good News - Part 6

Sunday, February 11, 2024
Mark 2:1-12

So many gathered that there was no longer space, not even near the door. Jesus was speaking the word to them. Some people arrived, and four of them were bringing to him a man who was paralyzed. They couldn’t carry him through the crowd, so they tore off part of the roof above where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they lowered the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven!”

 Mark 2:2-5 (CEB)

Listen to this Week’s Sermon here:

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This may be one of my favorite scenes in the gospels partly because it is so absurd, but even more because it shows how far people will go when something matters enough to them.  In this case, what mattered most for these four individuals, was their paralyzed friend.

Most of us are probably good friends.  We care for those we love in times of need.  We will visit them in the hospital and call to check in if someone is alone.  I’m guessing these four also were good friends to the paralyzed man.  They probably made sure he could get where he needed to go and helped him with food and other basic needs.  Without friends like that, someone in his condition would not have lived very long.  It is truly a humbling experience to depend on someone that much just to survive. 

At a previous church I regularly visited a man, who at age 18, became a quadriplegic after a tragic diving accident in a pond.  He spent 38 years in a hospital bed at home, unable to move except for his head.  I was privileged to preside over his funeral in 2015.  He was strong and always did what he could to help others primarily on the phone, arranging anything his mom needed taken care of in the house even as she struggled to care for his medical needs.  He was also a brilliant artist, having taught himself to paint by holding the brush in his mouth.  During the final years of his life, he knew his mother’s health was declining and he constantly felt like a burden to her no matter how much she said otherwise.  His last words to me expressed his desire to go home to Jesus so she could finally get the rest she so desperately needed.  I imagine Jesus’ first words to him in heaven may have been something like, “get up and walk,” just as he said to the man in this passage.

As I saw modeled in his mom, it takes a tremendous amount of strength to care for someone in that situation.  The man’s friends in Mark must also have been like that, even as they carried him on a stretcher for who knows how far, just to see Jesus.  But when they got there, it was too crowded.  There was no way to get anywhere near this increasingly famous healer.  So they raised his stretcher up to the roof, removed a section of thatch, and lowered him down to Jesus.  Setting aside the issues of destruction of property and cutting in a very long line, their dedication to him and their faith in Jesus was incredible. 

It makes me wonder, as we care for our friends and family and others in need around us, how far would we be willing to go to get them to Jesus?  Do we even mention Jesus’ name when we are in their company?  Do we share what our faith means to us and how Jesus has strengthened and healed us in our own lives?  Do we ask them to share stories of the beautiful things in their lives and celebrate together as we reflect on the amazing ways God keeps showing up? 

Who in your life needs you to bring them to Jesus this week?