Breaking Barriers: The Church and the Power of Disruptive Faith"- Matthew 9:1-7
Jesus wasn’t always the crowd favorite. In one story from the Gospel of Matthew, people actually begged him to leave their city(8:34). He was shaking up their status quo, messing with their economy—way too much for them to handle. We love Jesus the healer, the one who brings freedom to individuals. But Jesus the disruptor? That’s a different story. So, he leaves—maybe disappointed—and heads back to his hometown.
That’s where he crosses paths with a paralyzed man. This guy’s life is in ruins—probably feeling cursed, like God’s punishing him for something. He’s stuck on the fringes, cut off from the temple, supposedly where God’s presence is found. But he’s got one thing going for him: his friends. They could’ve left him behind, gone on with their lives, and never looked back. But instead, they do something wild—almost reckless.
When they hear Jesus is back in town, they don’t hesitate. They put their faith into action, even though it’s gonna cost them—time, effort, and maybe even their reputation. Jesus is holed up in some house, and these guys, in a bold or desperate move, tear the roof off and lower their friend right into the room.
You can imagine the scene—the homeowner freaking out, the neighbors gossiping. But the real question is: What’s Jesus gonna do?
Turns out, they made the right move. Jesus looks at them, sees their faith, their guts, their relentless determination. And he responds—not with a lecture, but with grace. He forgives the man’s sins and then proves it by healing his body on the spot.
But even here, the so-called experts challenge Jesus. To them, he’s a heretic, a blasphemer, a troublemaker. They can’t see that Jesus carries real authority, that he embodies the very heart of the Father. The day of forgiveness has come, and it’s not in some heavenly court or temple in Jerusalem. It’s here, now, as pure grace and gift, in the wild Messiah Jesus and his radical kingdom. The times are a changing—a new day has dawned.
And it’s encouraging to see that the Church often embodies these same values. Throughout history and today, we see communities of faith reaching out to the marginalized, those pushed aside and forgotten. We see people willing to take risks, to show bold, disruptive faith that tears down barriers and brings people to Jesus. This is the Church at its best—getting our hands dirty, shaking things up, and standing with those who’ve been left behind. It’s a powerful reminder that the real work of faith is alive and well.
- Swales, 2024
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