Mark 2:3-5 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

As many times as I have heard this passage taught, I have not recalled once any telling in which these four friends had risked their own lives. Think of it this way, if Jesus was in your house and these men destroyed your roof, would your first response be to lend them a hand or call the police?

Put the destruction of private property aside for one moment and look at the symbolism. The roof is protective covering, shelter, sanctuary, structure that is meant to make one feel secure. It is a covering over one’s head.

2 Samuel 15:30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

Covering of the head is a matter of hiding one’s countenance in the face of their own failings, weaknesses, and shame. Here in Mark chapter two these four men destroyed that covering in order to bring their friend before Jesus. These men did more than destroy a roof, they broke tradition.

Up until Christ rose from the grave it was tradition for religious men to cover their heads. It still is tradition in some religions. It is not for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

1 Corinthians 11:7a For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God:

Psalm 28:1 Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

There is nothing in this world that hurts as much as when my wife stops talking to me. It is a clear sign that I have done something wrong. With her silent I am left alone, wondering, “what have I done now?” It is not that she does not love me, for I know she does, but that I have wounded her in some way.

It is easy to translate those kinds of thoughts to God’s silence. We do offend God, not personally mind you, but sin of any kind is offensive to God. Those words David uttered often come to mind in those times.

Psalm 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

His silence does not judge but that does not stop me from judging myself. It is difficult not to blame myself for God’s silence. God is not wrong to be silent. What is God saying in the sound of silence?

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Perhaps it is nothing more than God’s way of asking me to change the conversation.