WHO PAYS FOR THE ROOF?

 WHO PAYS FOR THE ROOF?

This short musing of mine describes an overlooked detail in a very touching and interesting miracle.

We all know the story from Mark 2:1-12. A paralyzed man is carried by four friends to see Jesus, but the house is packed. Undeterred, they haul him to the roof, dig through the clay and timber, and lower him into the room. Jesus, seeing their faith, heals the man.

It’s a powerful lesson on persistence, faith, and community. But lately, I can’t stop wondering… who paid for the roof?

The Unasked Question

The Bible doesn’t mention repairs. It doesn’t tell us if the homeowner was angry, if the friends collected money afterward, or if Jesus quietly covered the cost. We’re left to imagine the aftermath: the debris, the open sky, the property damage in the wake of a miracle.

And maybe that’s the point.

Three Ways to Think About "The Roof"

1. The Cost of Radical Friendship

Those four friends didn’t stop at the crowd. They were willing to create a disturbance, risk embarrassment, and possibly pay for damages—all to get their friend to Jesus. True friendship is sometimes costly. It’s not just about emotional support; it’s about tangible, disruptive action. They carried the weight, both physically and financially.

2. The Disruption of Faith

Real faith isn’t always orderly. It sometimes tears things open—routines, comfort, even literal roofs—to reach the presence of Jesus. The homeowner might have initially seen only a hole, but soon he witnessed a walking, living miracle in his own front room. What we call “damage,” God might call “a new opening.”

3. Jesus Sees the Heart, Not Just the Hole

Notice Jesus’ response: “When He saw their faith…” He honoured the collective effort. Perhaps the financial or practical concerns were secondary to the eternal miracle that took place. Yet, wouldn’t it be like Jesus to ensure the homeowner was left better, not worse? The Healer who restores bodies could certainly restore a roof—whether through miracle or means.

So, Who Did Pay?

We aren’t told. But what if the answer is “Everyone who has ever benefited from a miracle they didn’t personally witness”?

Every time we retell this story, we’re reminded:

· Faith that seeks Jesus is worth the disruption.

· Community carries burdens—even financial ones.

· Miracles often leave practical messes in their wake, and love helps clean them up.

Maybe the friends pooled their savings. Maybe the healed man, now able to work, offered his first wages. Maybe the homeowner considered it a privilege to have his roof be part of gospel history.

The Takeaway

Next time you face a “roof moment”—a situation where helping someone requires personal cost, risk, or cleanup—remember:

· Don’t let practical worries paralyze compassion.

· Miracles might start with a mess.

· Miracles don't produce faith; faith does produce miracles.

· Jesus sees and honours faith that takes action, even when it’s inconvenient.

In the end, the roof was a small price for a man who walked home that day. And perhaps our call is to be the kind of friends willing to break through barriers for one another—and trust that God handles the repairs.

“They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head…” — Mark 2:4.

© December 3rd, 2025

Pastor Emmanuel Obu 

The Apostle of Joy