A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door…
Mark 2:1-2
As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Mark 1:45
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
James 1:22
Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.
Mark 2:3
Without God’s grace, we are not only unable to rise, but we do not even know that we have fallen.
Augustine
Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.
Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:1-5
He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 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 2:11-12
