In a place called Capernaum, Jesus was in a house. Many, many people crowded around the house to see and hear Jesus. He told them about God’s love and healed many people. The house was quite full, and there were more people outside.
In the same city there lived a man who could not walk. His legs were very weak. He had four good friends who took care of him. The friends heard that Jesus was in the village and healed sick people. They wanted Jesus to help their friend to walk again.
The friends carried the man on a mat, but they couldn’t get through the door. There were just too many people there! But the friends did not give up. They came up with something very clever. They climbed onto the roof of the house with their boyfriend and the mat. There they made a hole in the roof and carefully lowered their friend right in front of Jesus’ feet.
When Jesus saw this, he smiled. He knew that his friends firmly believed that he could help. Jesus said to the man, “Get up, take your mat, and go home.” And do you know what happened then? The man really stood up! His legs were strong! He took his mat and went home happily. All the people were amazed and praised God, because they had seen something very special.
Message of history
God loves us and wants to help us. If we have firm faith in Him, He can do great things in our lives.
Bible passage
Mark 2:1-12 (Schlachter 2000):
“And after a few days he went back to Capernaum; and it became known that he was in the house. 2 And immediately many gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even outside the door; and he preached the word to them. 3 And they come to him and bring a paralytic, who has been killed by four [Männern] was borne. 4 And since they could not come near him because of the crowd, they covered the roof where he was; and when they had broken it open, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 And some of the scribes sat there, thinking in their hearts, 7 “What does this blasphemy say? Who can forgive sins but God alone? 8 And immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that they were thinking this way to themselves, and he said to them, “Why do you think these things in your hearts? 9 What is easier to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk?’ 10 But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth, he said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, take up your bed, and go home.” 12 Immediately he got up, took his bed, and went out in front of them all, so that they were all amazed, and praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like it.”
