In Part 1 of this series, I discussed the importance of Adventist education and the difficulties that it has faced in recent years. This post uses Mark’s story of the paralyzed man and his friends to explore our role in bringing Adventist education before God for healing.
Despite many challenges, God is again calling the Adventist Church and its schools to prepare an army of young people who will finish His work. Allow me to share some encouragement from the book of Mark 2:1–5. This passage narrates a compelling story of four nameless, courageous men who never gave up on their paralytic, bedridden friend.
Jesus Christ had just started his ministry in Galilee on a high note. He was doing extraordinary miracles—healing the sick, deaf, lame, blind, and even bringing the dead back to life. It was an exciting time for a movement that would shake the world and the beginning of what would later become the Christian Church.
Jesus left Capernaum, His village, as an ordinary teacher or Rabbi. A few days later, He returned as a hero because of the great miracles and ministry He had performed in Galilee. The news of His great wonders spread across Galilee and beyond. Many rejoiced that God had remembered His people and raised a great prophet who would bring salvation to the Jews. There was even greater rejoicing and celebrations in Capernaum, the home of the great prophet.
Mark 2:1 states, “A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.” The people of Capernaum wanted to welcome Jesus and celebrate the successful launch of His ministry. Many were curious to see the new prophet in the village.
When the news of Jesus’ return to Capernaum hit the village, there was a stampede. People rushed to see the prophet. Everybody was focused on their own personal interests, agendas, and desires. The Bible says, “They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them” (Mark 2:2 NIV).
Many did not remember their sick neighbors, friends, and family members. They went to see Jesus alone until “there was room left, not even outside the door.” (Mark 2:2). The possessive and selfish crowd kept the needy at bay, because they wanted their blessings first.
The story is incomplete without the four men who refused to see Jesus alone. These men were instrumental in the healing of their paralytic friend. While the rest of the crowd thought only of themselves, they thought about their ailing friend who was paralyzed and helpless. Mark reminds us: “Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by the four of them” (Mark 2:3).
If they were around in 2024, the four friends might have thought about our “ailing” Adventist schools and what they could do to bring them before God. Are there people today who are willing to adopt and assist these struggling Adventist schools and support them with prayers and financial resources? Now that “Jesus again [has] entered Capernaum,” we must tell “the people that he [has] come home” (Mark 2:1). Jesus always does great things when he returns, enters Capernaum, and is home with His people.
In Part 3 of this four part series, I will define the qualities that made these four friends especially equipped to transform the life of their paralyzed friend—and how we might display those same qualities in order to transform Adventist education.
Author
Andrew Mutero
Mutero currently serves as the Education Director for the East-Central Africa Division, which includes the countries of Burundi, D.R. Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.