(Fourth in a series of article based on the little incident in Mark 2:1-12)
“Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic, carried by four men. Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic was lying….”
A priest stands between God and the people. He is an intercessor before God on behalf of the people. He is a witness (whether teaching, preaching, or simply speaking) before the people on behalf of God.
The priest has two strong attachments: to the Lord Himself and to the people in his care.
The four men of this story demonstrate both: Their confidence in Jesus is what inspired them to go to all this trouble of getting their friend to Him; Their commitment to the friend drove them to do whatever it took to see that he had the full opportunity to be healed.
With one hand on the Lord and the other on the friend, both hands locked into steel grips, the “priest” refuses to turn loose of either.