Episode Three: The Paralysed Man Lowered Through the Roof

In the third episode of our Lent podcast series Dr Louise Gosbell, biblical studies scholar and disability advocate, joins Phil Walker-Harding, Common Grace supporter and volunteer, to explore Jesus’ encounter with the paralysed man lowered through the roof in Mark 2.

Together, they revisit this familiar passage and challenge common assumptions about disability, sin and agency. Their conversation reflects on the barriers that can keep people from accessing Jesus, from physical obstacles to cultural and theological ones. They invite us to imagine churches courageous enough to remove those barriers, even when it’s disruptive, becoming communities that reflect the transforming welcome of Christ.

Listen to this podcast episode below 

You can also download the episode via this Google Drive link.

A transcript of this conversation can be downloaded here.

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 paralysed 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 paralysed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralysed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Mark 2:1-12

Reflect:

Did anything new strike you about the passage as you listened to Louise and Phil's conversation?

What is the relationship between Jesus' healing and his forgiveness of sins in the passage? Have you ever had an experience where someone conflated sinfulness with disability or illness?

Do you feel there are any barriers to certain people fully participating at your church? What is a first step you could take towards addressing this barrier?

Have you ever raised the idea of changing something in one of your communities and felt like you were causing a disruption? How did this make you feel and how did you proceed?

Pray:

Good God, we thank you for sending Jesus to break down barriers. Barriers that stop us coming to you and barriers that stop us loving and living with each other. Help us to follow Jesus in this way and advocate for those who are held back by barriers in our communities. Give us courage to stand up for them even when we are seen as disruptive. Thank you that you are a God who heals and a God who forgives. Amen.

Go Deeper:

Biblical Disability: Recast and Remembered - a website about disability in the bible. This resource is designed to bring together material about the diverse things that the bible says about disability and the diverse ways in which people have interpreted these biblical passages in different times, places, and social contexts throughout history.

Everyone Welcome: Accessible church for all - guidelines written by Dr Louise Gosbell, providing helpful tools for working towards greater inclusion of people with disability in churches.

Disability Studies - a chapter written by Dr Louise Gosbell included in a handbook on interdisciplinary approaches to biblical studies, due for publication in early 2026. 

Dr Louise Gosbell is the Research Manager at Australian University of Australia (AUT) and previously served at Mary Andrews College as a New Testament lecturer, Dean of Students, and College Principal. A Biblical studies scholar, her research focuses particularly on disability in biblical texts and its implications for church practice. She serves on the Sydney Anglican General Synod Doctrine Committee, works as a disability consultant for the Diocese’s Office of Safe Ministry, and participates in the AUT’s Disability Reference Group and various ministry boards. She is married to Mark and has three grown-up-ish daughters.

Phil Walker-Harding is board and card game designer living and working on Gadigal land. He and his wife Meredith run Joey Games where they make board games about Australia for kids and adults to play together. With a Masters of Theology, Phil has worked in a number of local church and creative arts ministries.