In Matthew 16:18, we read where Jesus said to Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” When Jesus stated that He would build His church “on this rock,” He was not referring to the location where they were standing, and He did not have in mind a piece of real estate or property. Peter’s name in Greek means, “rock.” Therefore, Jesus was declaring that He would build His church on Peter, meaning that Peter would become the head of the New Testament church.
Even today Jesus builds His church on people, not on real estate. A church member at Bridgewater Church in Knoxville, Tennessee testifies, “Somewhere along the way we’ve unintentionally confused buildings with the Church.”(1) We often say things like, “Where do you go to church?” “Are you building a new church?” “Where is your church?” and “Last Sunday when I went to church.” This same church member continues to state, “Our words reveal that many people see the church as a location, a building, and bricks and mortar.”(2)
The church is an assembly of God’s people. Even if believers were to meet for worship out in an open field, in a cave, under a large tent or even in a store front, the assembly of the Lord’s people would still be called a church. It is important for us to note that the church is comprised of people, for if we fail to remember this fact we could make the mistake of directing our energies into preserving property instead of rescuing those who are perishing.
Jesus Used the House for Preaching (vv. 1-2)
1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
We read that when Jesus entered Capernaum “that He was in the house” (v. 1). Whenever Jesus became tired of ministering to the multitudes, there were two main places that He would retreat for rest; one was on a mountain (Mark 14:23), and the other was in a house. For example, Mark 7:24 states, “He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden.” Jesus had hoped to draw the curtains and lay low for a while, because He sought solitude for some much needed down time. However, we read here that He could not conceal His location, for “it was heard” (v. 1) where He was staying.
When the people discovered His location, there were so many of them gathered around the entrance to the house that those near the back of the crowd could barely hear Jesus speak. Nevertheless, “He preached the word to them” (v. 2). Jesus preached from the doorway of a house, which was commonplace in the New Testament; as houses were often utilized as a base for teaching and preaching the gospel. For example, Acts 5:42 testifies, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” Jesus preached from the entrance of a house, and the apostles would also teach and preach inside a house.
What I am hoping we can understand is that a house is not a museum; it is meant to be lived in and used. In the past, when going house hunting, my wife and I noticed that many houses had numerous holes in the walls and doors falling off the hinges. Why? Because the house was “well-loved” and well-worn. A house is just a utility; it’s not the real home. The “home” consists of all the family members living inside, who laugh together, play together, and love together. The house is only the vehicle in which the home is established. However, some people treat their house as a showpiece, where each room is an exhibit to showcase a particular theme or interest; and visitors are only allowed to look, and not touch.
A church is often called “the house of God.” That means it is the place where we worship the Lord; and where we grow in fellowship as a church family, to become the “home of God.” The church building is nothing special, for the Lord can meet us anywhere. For example, Luke testified, “And they said to one another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:32). Just as Jesus met with His disciples on the road, the Lord can meet with us wherever we find ourselves. God is not found only in the church building, nor is He confined there.
Stephen once declared, "The Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 'Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord, or ‘What is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?'” (Acts 7:48-50). Resounding a similar statement as Stephen, the apostle Paul said, "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things . . . He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:24-25, 27b-28a).
A house is nothing without God’s presence there, for it is just an empty shell. It is not special or holy on its own. A house becomes a sanctuary – a place that is sanctified and holy – only when believers meet together for worship; and it only takes a small handful of people for this to happen. Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). When believers are not gathered together for worship, a church building is nothing more than wood and nails, and brick and mortar. When we gather in God’s house, we are to do so with the purpose of worshipping the Lord, and not with the intention of idolizing or memorializing the place of worship.
Jesus Did Not Mind the Torn Roof (vv. 3-5)
3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
We read that four men, possibly some relatives or close friends, carried a paralytic to the house to meet with Jesus, but there were so many people in the way that they could not approach Him. So what plan did they devise? The four men were so desperate to see Jesus provide a healing touch, that they climbed on top the house, hoisted up the paralytic, tore a hole in the roof, and then maneuvered him through the hole and back down to floor level; thereby, positioning him directly behind Jesus. They expended a lot of effort, and inflicted property damage on someone’s house, because it was worth it to see this man healed.
What is a person’s spiritual healing worth to us? Is it worth the effort of driving someone to church each and every week? Is it worth enduring crying kids during the worship service? Is it worth seeing the church facilities well-worn or damaged? The reason why many churches are not seeing people come to Christ, and why they are not observing numerous people attending worship service, is because they have forgotten their mission to the hurting and wounded, and to the lost and dying. They have redirected their energies into self-preservation and memorializing the past, which can include making a shrine or museum of the church building.
A church that seeks self-preservation is said to be inward-focused. According to an article I read, one of the things you will observe in an inward-focused church is how “maintaining facilities is often more important than people.”(3) As an example, I remember how in one church I pastored, we were collaborating with a local organization to start an after school program for underprivileged children, but the planning was quickly shut down. The program never got off the ground, because there were some who voiced concerns that the kids would be rough and cause damage to the walls of the fellowship hall. It has been compassionately said that we must “remember that the child who breaks the toy is more important than the toy.”(4)
Aubrey Malphurs, professor of pastoral ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary, tells us that “people become enamored with what may be ornate facilities and forget about the purpose they serve.”(5) Imagine if Jesus had heard the men tearing through the roof and then turned around and said, “Hey! What do you think you are doing knocking a hole in the roof! How dare you! Shame on you!” What reputation would He have had after that? Do you think He would have still been seen as caring and approachable? Probably not. Jesus didn’t mind the torn roof, because He saw people as more important than property.
Jerry Falwell says, “God loves people; He sent His Son to die for people, and now Jesus indwells the heart of His people. The building is just a location where Christians gather for singing, preaching, teaching and fellowship. What goes on in the building is many times more important than the building itself.”(6) It’s what goes on in the heart that truly matters.
Verse 5 says, “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you’.” Jesus saw their action as exemplifying faith; He did not see it as carelessness or being irresponsible with someone else’s property. Suppose a youth leader wants to hold an all-night event at the church; a lock-in, if you will. This could be seen as an opportunity to impact young people with the gospel. However, some could easily view the youth minister as being immature and irresponsible, because he is not considering the damage that teenagers could cause to the church facilities. Some believers need to adjust their perspective, but there must first be an adjustment of the heart.
We need to make certain that our focus is on people, not property. If a visitor shows up for service today and accidentally breaks the bathroom faucet, then so what! We need to be able see that visitor through the eyes of Jesus, and realize that the individual is in church today for the very reason that he or she had the faith to listen and respond to the Holy Spirit’s call to be here. Instead seeing the individual’s faults, we need to recognize his or her faith.
Not only did Jesus realize the roof was unimportant, but the four men did as well. They desperately wanted the paralytic to be healed, and they would have knocked down any obstacle to get him closer to Jesus. What are you willing to demolish for someone’s spiritual healing? How much wear and tear will you allow on the church facilities to see someone saved? Is your nostalgia for the church building an obstacle that hinders an individual from reaching Jesus Christ? Notice from verse 5 that it is “your” faith to remove the obstacle that can result in another person finding spiritual healing. Look at what the Scripture says. Jesus “saw their faith” and “said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you’.”
Time of Reflection
The apostle Paul once declared, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). In what ways are you willing to become all things to all people, in order to meet their spiritual needs? Are you willing to give up some material things, and forfeit earthly possessions, if it will help the lost come to Christ? Are you ready to let go of your nostalgia for a piece of real estate? If you wish to see the lost receive Jesus Christ, then you must make people a priority over possessions and over property; and the reason why, is because clinging to the things of this world can result in overlooking the spiritual needs of others.
If you are here this morning and you are not a Christian, then clinging to the things of the world is something you might have a problem with. You might be afraid to accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord, because you know there are some things you will have to give up. The possessions and pleasures of this world can result in individuals overlooking their own spiritual need, and failing to realize the importance of drawing near to Christ. Just remember how Jesus once asked, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37).
NOTES
(1) “Why Did Bridgewater Church Sell Our Property?” posted March 2011, Bridgewater Church: www.bridgewaterchurch.org/tp40/page.asp?id=144906 (Accessed July 25, 2011).
(2) Ibid.
(3) “Evangelism for the Outward-focused Church,” www.jacksonsnyder.com/arc/beyond/1.htm (Accessed April 2005).
(4) Richard J. Foster, The Challenge of the Disciplined Life (New York, NY: Harper Collins, 1985), p. 62.
(5) Aubrey Malphurs, The Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2011), p. 175.
(6) Jerry Falwell, Building Dynamic Faith (Nashville, TN: Word Publishing, 2005).
