A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭20‬
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

Earlier in chapter 1 of Mark, Jesus called Peter and Andrew as his first two disciples. Matthew 4, our cross reference, also speaks of this calling. After this, he preached the Sermon on the Mount, in which he laid out much of the foundation for the ministry he was bringing to the Jews and the world. He redefined the law and helped people understand God’s heart behind the law once again.

He preached of being meek and humble, faithful and merciful, pure in heart and makers of peace. He discussed what these actions looked like: keeping one’s word, “turning the other cheek”, loving one’s enemies, and giving in secret to gain a blessing in heaven, to name a few.

After this, he healed the Centurion’s servant and then he went to Peter’s house. “As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬-‭31‬). He then proceeded to heal many and cast out many evil spirits.

And so we find in our passage, it says that Jesus entered Capernaum and then it says, “the people heard he had come home.” Apparently Jesus called this his home. Peter’s house was his home, as well. This gives us a glimpse into the heart of Peter, who loves Jesus and graciously offered up his house as a base of operations for him and his ministry. But it was more than that. It was a “home” to Jesus. It was full of love. He had healed Peter’s mother-in-law, who lived with Peter, and had performed many miracles from this home in Capernaum.

Now we see that people knew this was his home (though Nazareth was his childhood home), and they came to him in droves. Jesus loved the people of Capernaum. He also loved the sacrifice of these four men and how they cared for their friend. He loved their relentless pursuit of their friend’s healing. And he honored their faith in his home.

Keep in mind, they ruined the roof of his home (Peter’s house) to get this man in front of Jesus. But this was not the focus. Jesus was selfless and so his disciples followed his lead. These men who tore open the roof were to be honored, not harassed. They loved deeply and well.

So there are two things I take away from this passage: 1) Jesus made his home at Peter’s place. And it was a great place to live from. He was welcome there. He loved those who lived there. And he did ministry from there. Having a home away from home must have been a great encouragement for Jesus. 2) Jesus cared more about what was in the heart of those around him than he cared about his home and its roof being ripped apart or crowded out.

It is good for me to have many in my life who have opened up their homes, in the past, as a home away from home. This was such an encouragement to me. In our community group at church, we have weekly hosts, those who open up their homes to us as we study the Bible, fellowship, pray, and encourage each other. These homes are homes of peace that ministry is done in. And they are blessed as they are, in a way, homes of Jesus Christ. For we dwell with Jesus in these homes.

Jesus also knew faithful men when he saw them. He could cut through all the smokescreens people put up in life; the outward appearances, the polish and shine. And he could see into their hearts. I want to gain more of this spiritual insight, as well.

Help me see into the hearts of my fellow man, Lord. Help me to honor those who grant me “home-like” status. And teach me to call out incredible faithfulness around me in others!