12/06/2026
WHO PATCHED UP THE ROOF?
Whehen Jesus touched the lame man in Capernaum, no doubt there was much rejoicing. The sick man was healed, took his bed, and walked home to a happy family. His four friends experienced the thrill that comes in helping others. The crowd who gathered to see Jesus was certainly not disappointed.
However, a question persists in my mind. After all the excitement, the miracles, the rejoicing, and the praising of Jesus-who patched up the roof? To find the answer, let us look at the other side of the coin: Who did not patch up the roof?
1. THE VARIOUS ONLOOKERS DIDN'T PATCH UP THE ROOF.
They just saw the crowd and decided to stick around for a while to see what would happen. They weren't involved in Christ's work. Curiosity, not Christ, attracted them.
2. THE CRITICAL SCRIBES DIDN'T PATCH UP THE ROOF.
The Bible says they didn't work. Their trademark was a critical spirit. Their interest was not in building up the kingdom of our Lord; they were trying to blow it up.
3. THE "BLESS-ME CLUB" DIDN'T PATCH UP THE ROOF.
This group of people, who are always wanting a thrill without paying the bill, were not disciplined enough to be away from the excitement. They wanted to follow Jesus only so they could witness another miracle.
4. THOSE WHO WERE AMAZED AT JESUS' MIRACLE DIDN'T PATCH UP THE ROOF.
Their amazement probably spilled over into the streets of the city, where they excitedly told theirfriends about the great things Jesus had done. Their amazement and their desire to share it couldn't wait for the menial task of repairing a roof.
5. THE AVERAGE ATTENDER DIDN'T HELP PATCH UP THE ROOF.
The crowd who came to hear Jesus apparently wouldn't even move out of the way to let the lame man and his friends into the house. If they were so unconcerned that they wouldn't let the men into the building, certainly their lack of compassion would hinder them from fixing the roof. It was the unwillingness to make way for the needy one that forced the men to go to the roof in the first place.
6. IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT EVEN THE FOUR MEN WHO KNOCKED A HOLE IN THE ROOF PATCHED IT UP.
Why? When Jesus comes and the thrill of being in His presence impresses us, we become excited, turned-on Christians. Within this spiritually charged atmosphere, people sometimes find it natural to do the unusual-like knocking holes in roofs. However, when the excitement dies down, it soon becomes evident that it's much easier to do things like knocking holes in roofs when miraclesare about to happen than to patch them up after the miracles have gone.
The person who patched up the roof was someone who served Jesus because of who He was rather than because of what He did. This type of person appreciates the message more than the miracles, the life more than the loaves, the truth more than the thrills. You occasionally find this type of individual in the church today. He or she is always a blessing. Faithfulness, loyalty, and dependability are trademarks of this individual's life. When the shouting has subsided and the excitement has died down, he or she is ready to pick up the pieces and do the dirty work.
Unquestionably, God's kingdom is being advanced by people of little talent doing little jobs for a big God.
The person who patched up the roof was someone who followed Jesus, knowing that the cross comes before the crown. This person has counted the cost. He or she has embraced and accepted the principle Jesus enunciated: "Whoever loses his life for me will find it" (Matt. 16:25).
Finally, the person who patched up the roof after the crowd left certainly loved Jesus enough to think that no job is insignificant. Unquestionably, God's kingdom is being advanced by people of little talent doing little jobs for a big God. It's exciting to know that God needs every roof-patcher He can find. The individual who is disciplined enough to do the unexciting and devoted enough to do the uninteresting will certainly find patching up roofs rewarding in God's work.
" For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
Matthew 16:25 KJV
crdts:John C. Maxwell "Think on These Things"
