Description
Scene 1: Jesus enters the city of Capernaum
This story happened during the time of Jesus’ ministry in the city of Capernaum, a city that belonged to Israel.
One day the people of Capernaum began to spread a very important, very special message among each other, which is that Jesus was coming to teach in their city. Who is Jesus? He is the son of God. He was going all over to share the Good News, use the words of the Bible to teach people to love each other, to do good, and to show people God’s great love for them. He also had power to cure the sick and afflicted. Because of that, Jesus was incredibly well-known; everyone knew who He was. Whatever village Jesus went to, the people crowded together. Do you know what they came together for? To hear Jesus teach, because they really liked to hear Him teach. Everything He taught was wonderful. And it was correct, too. The day that the people were all waiting for came. After a trip preaching in a far away place, Jesus took a boat to this familiar city of His, Capernaum. The people in that city were very excited and full of great expectation for Jesus.
Take a look. Everyone’s face looks so happy and full of life!
While they’re working, they’re telling each other,
“Hey everyone! Work fast! Today the Teacher, Jesus, is going to be teaching in our city.” The news of Jesus coming to the city quickly passed from ear to ear, and they were telling each other, “Jesus’ teachings are powerful, we just have to listen.”
“Oh, and He can also heal lots of different sicknesses, the blind can see, the lame can walk and the dead are raised back to life.”
When someone heard everyone discussing this, they quickly asked,
“What did you say? Jesus can heal the lame and paralyzed too?”
The crowd answered,
“Yes. He has healed many people who used to be lame, and those who are paralyzed can walk!”
Hearing this, the man quickly ran off.
“I have to go and get my other friends to help bring my friend who’s paralyzed to Jesus.”
After saying this, he quickly ran off, thinking about how he would need four people if he wanted to be able to carry his friend here. But he had to hurry because the opportunity would be lost once Jesus left the city.
At the same time, the boat had just reached shore, bringing Jesus to the city. The people ran out to greet Him. A woman warmly greeted Him and asked,
“You’re here, Teacher! Are you tired? We have some water and bread ready for you, Teacher!”
The little children were also all talking at once saying, “Jesus! Jesus! We have flowers for You, Teacher. Our parents told us You are very gracious and love children.”
Jesus looked at the people, His heart filled with love for them. The people crowded as they followed Jesus, and He talked with them as He walked. Everyone was following after Jesus.
Scene 2: Jesus teaches in the house
The crowd following Jesus became larger and larger. Jesus went into a house, and the crowd filled up the house out into the front yard. There were so many people that there wasn’t a single empty space left. Jesus started teaching, and He started teaching about the Good News of love and about the good plan God has for them.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
His teachings were truly powerful, everyone who heard was mesmerized.
Scene 3: Four friends bring the paralytic to Jesus
Then there were four people carrying a paralytic to Him. They knew Jesus would have compassion on their friend. They also believed that Jesus had the power to heal him, and so they carried their friend to where Jesus was teaching. But when they got there, they saw that the crowd was too great. There were so many people that there wasn’t any empty space to get through the door! Because of that, they couldn’t get their friends close to Him.
Friend 1: Man! How are we supposed to get in there with all these people?
Friend 2: We’re already here, you want us to turn around?
Friend 3: How can we go back? Let me see if I can find another way, OK?
They talked with each other and thought hard to find some way to bring their poor friend into the house, but it looked like they were powerless to do anything.
“What are we supposed to do now? Give up?! Jesus is our friend’s only answer… He’s the only one who can heal him.”
But after talking back and forth, they couldn’t come up with a way to get in. Shove their way in, push their way in, climb over everyone, try to go through the side door, yell out to get Jesus’ attention… nothing would work.
Friend 4: Fine. Every possible way in is full of too many people. We can’t even get a foot in, how are we supposed to carry a bed through? The only move I see now is climbing up the roof, and opening up a hole, and letting the bed down that way. We’re not getting in any other way.
Friend 2: Oh, that’s a good idea! How come we did think of that sooner?
Friend 1: That’ll work. But if we’re gonna cut open a hole in the roof to let him down, we have to put him down right where He’s teaching. Do you think He’d be upset and rebuke us for being so disrespectful?
Friend 3: He wouldn’t! Jesus is very gracious. We’ll let our friend down and ask God to save him from his condition. I believe that the Teacher won’t rebuke us, because we’re doing something good.
Friend 4: I don’t think Jesus would rebuke us either, but we have to be careful not to let any dust or dirt fall on Jesus. It wouldn’t be right.
So they agreed to bring their friend up to the roof and lower him down. One went off to find some rope, another to find a ladder, and they tied their friend tightly to the bed so that he wouldn’t fall off as they were lowering him. After some effort, they were finally able to get their friend onto the roof. Then they started lowering him down.
Scene 4: The paralytic is lowered down and Jesus heals him
Member of the crowd 1: Where’s all this dust coming from? It’s so dirty! Someone’s doing something on the roof – the crowd starts to shout – “Hey what are you guys doing up there? You trying to tear down the house?”
1 or 2 members of the crowd: Jesus is teaching down here!” Why would you do something so disrespectful?” “It looks like they’re getting ready to lower something down.”
The crowd has become stirred up and noisy. Jesus stops teaching. He looks up to the roof and, there, a bed’s being lowered down. When the bed reaches the floor, they can see that on that bed is a paralytic.
4 friends yell down loudly,
“Jesus! Please heal our friend. He’s paralyzed and can’t move. He’s miserable!”
Jesus saw the faith of these 4 friends, and He knew their hearts clearly. He knew that they were not afraid. Instead, they were determined with one heart and one faith to do everything they could to bring their friend before Him. Jesus then said,
“Your sins are forgiven. Rise, take up your bed and go!”
To the indescribable amazement of the crowd, after these words from Jesus, the paralytic immediately rose, took his bed and left. He danced and sang as he went, joyfully praising God. All four friends were overcome with joy. They knelt down right there on the roof and glorified God. They couldn’t believe their eyes! Such a wondrous thing, a miracle happened that could only come from God. Everyone was amazed and fearful before the power of Jesus. Everyone lowered themselves to the ground and worshiped God, saying,
“We’ve never seen anything like this!” “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
