Through the Roof

In a little fishing town called Capernaum, beside a big blue lake, there lived a boy named Asher. He loved watching the fishing boats.

Asher lived in a little stone house with a shady fig tree in the yard. Under that tree was his favorite spot: a straw mat.

Asher sat on that mat almost all day long. That's because Asher's legs did not work. He could not walk, or run, or even stand up.

Every day, Asher watched the other children race past his gate. 'I wish I could run like them,' he whispered.

But Asher was never lonely, because he had four best friends. The biggest was Micah, a fisherman with a bushy black beard and a laugh as loud as thunder.

Next came Amos, the tallest boy in town. He could pick figs from the very top of the tree, and he always saved the best one for Asher.

Dan was short and round, with a shiny bald head. He was the kindest man you ever met, and he always brought Asher warm bread.

Joel was the youngest friend. He was always full of ideas. Some of his ideas were good, and some were very, very silly!

Every morning, the four friends carried Asher on his mat down to the lake, so he could watch the boats and feel the sunshine.

But more than anything, Asher wished that one day he could walk, and run, and climb trees, just like everybody else.

Then one morning, the whole town was buzzing with news. People hurried down the lane, whispering one name. 'Jesus is here!'

Jesus was a teacher sent by God. He told wonderful stories, and he made sick people well. And today, he had come to Asher's town!

BANG! Asher's gate flew open. It was Micah, all out of breath. 'Asher! Jesus is in town! He makes sick people well!'

Asher's eyes grew wide. 'Do you think Jesus could help me?' he asked. 'Could he make my legs work?'

'Let's go and find out!' said Micah. Amos, Dan and Joel ran in too, and each friend grabbed one corner of the mat.

Down the bumpy lane they went, carrying Asher between them. Bumpity, bump, bump! 'Sorry, Asher!' puffed Dan. 'Bumpy road!'

Joel ran ahead to show the way. 'Hurry!' he called. 'Jesus is at the big house near the lake!'

But when they got to the house, oh no! There were people everywhere. In the doorway, in the street, even standing on their tiptoes.

Inside, the little house was packed full, from wall to wall. Everyone had come to listen to Jesus.

Right at the front sat two grumpy teachers. They knew lots and lots of rules, and they did not like Jesus one bit.

Back outside, Micah tried first. 'Excuse me! Coming through!' he boomed. But nobody moved. Not one inch.

Then Dan tried, very politely. 'Please, could our friend come in? He needs to see Jesus.' 'Sorry, no room!' said the people.

Amos was so tall, he tried looking in through the window. But the window was full of faces too!

The friends sat down in the dust. Asher tried to smile. 'It's okay,' he said softly. 'Let's just go home.'

But Asher's heart felt heavy. Jesus was so close, just inside that house. And Asher could not get to him.

But Joel wasn't ready to go home. He looked up the stairs, all the way up to the roof. 'I have an idea!' he said.

'Up on the roof?' said Dan. 'Joel, that is your silliest idea ever!' But Micah grinned. 'Or maybe your best one!'

So up the skinny stairs they went, carrying Asher. Push! Pull! 'Don't... drop... me!' giggled Asher.

The roof was flat, made of mud and sticks. Micah tapped on it. 'Jesus is right under our feet!' he whispered.

So the friends began to dig! Scrape! Crunch! SNAP! They pulled out sticks and scooped away the mud.

Down below, little bits of dirt began to fall from the ceiling. Plip! Plop! Right onto a grumpy teacher's nose!

Jesus stopped teaching and looked up at the ceiling. Someone was making a hole in the roof! And Jesus smiled.

At last, the hole was big enough! The friends peeked down, and a whole room full of surprised faces stared back up at them.

Dan and Joel tied a long rope to every corner of Asher's mat. 'Hold on tight, Asher!' said Joel.

Then slowly, slowly, the four friends let out the ropes. Down went Asher on his mat, right through the roof!

Everyone inside gasped. A boy was floating down from the ceiling! The people squeezed back to make room.

Thump! The mat landed softly on the floor, right in front of Jesus. Asher looked up at him with big, hopeful eyes.

Jesus looked up at the four dusty faces in the roof. They had worked so hard, because they believed Jesus could help their friend.

Jesus knelt beside Asher. 'My friend,' he said gently, 'your sins are forgiven.' That meant God forgave every wrong thing Asher had ever done.

The grumpy teachers frowned and whispered to each other. 'Who does he think he is? Only God can forgive sins!'

Jesus knew just what they were thinking. 'I will show you that God has sent me,' he said. 'Watch this.'

Jesus held out his hand to Asher. 'Get up,' he said. 'Pick up your mat, and walk home.'

Then Asher felt something new. His toes began to wiggle! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle! They had never done that before!

Asher pressed his hands on the floor. He bent his knees. His legs felt strong, stronger than ever before!

Up, up, UP! Asher stood up straight in the sunshine. He was standing for the very first time in his whole life!

Asher rolled up the old mat that had carried him for so long. Now he could carry it himself!

The crowd that wouldn't move for anybody now moved for Asher! 'We have never seen anything like this!' everyone cried.

Up on the roof, his friends cheered and jumped so hard that Dan almost fell right into the hole!

They raced down the stairs as fast as they could, and they all tumbled into one big, happy, dusty hug.

'Thank you, God!' they shouted together. 'Thank you, Jesus!' Asher laughed and laughed. He just couldn't stop smiling.

'Race you home!' shouted Asher. And off he ran. For the very first time ever, Asher won the race!

Back at home, Asher did something he had always dreamed of. He climbed the fig tree, all the way to the top!

That night, Asher leaned his old mat against the wall. He didn't need it anymore. His friends had carried him to Jesus, and Jesus had made him well.