Lovers of God

Jesus heals a paralytic who was let down from the roof

Mt 9:1-8 1 Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city. 2 And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven." 3 And some of the scribes said to themselves, "This fellow blasphemes." 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? 5 "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, and walk '? 6 "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" – then He said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home." 7 And he got up and went home. 8 But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Mk 2:1-13 1 When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9 "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven '; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'? 10 "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" – He said to the paralytic, 11 "I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home." 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this." 13 And He went out again by the seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them.

Lk 5:17-26 17 One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing. 18 And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. 19 But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." 21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" 22 But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 24 "But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," – He said to the paralytic – "I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home." 25 Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. 26 They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen remarkable things today."

Jesus noticed the faith of those paralytic’s friends. They couldn’t find a way to Jesus as people wouldn’t let them in (imagine that!), and so they were innovative and opened up the roof. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you from getting to Jesus. Be as ingenious as you can to get to Jesus and stay close to Him. Obstacles will surely come, but you must learn to out-maneuver them.

The scribes tried to find fault, calling Jesus a blasphemer because He portrayed Himself as One who could forgive sins – something that only God can do. Reasoning is only good when you have all the relevant facts. If you reason without considering all the facts you will jump to wrong conclusions. The fact that the scribes were missing was that God could become man.

Jesus clearly says here that He had the authority on earth to forgive sins, indicating His divinity.

Usually Matthew is more detailed than Mark, but here, Mark is more detailed than Matthew.

Was the man paralyzed because of his sins? It seems so, for otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense for Jesus to say that his sins were forgiven.

A paralyzed man is a symbol of a man who is useless to God, and unable to defend himself from Satan. If your life, or your home, or your church, is a scene of conflict and chaos, and there is no self-discipline, then your situation is similar to that of the paralyzed man. If God has not given you, or has taken away from you, a ministry in His church then you are like the paralyzed man.

Sometimes, we are unable to do, or disallowed from doing, anything for the kingdom of God (which is symbolized by being paralyzed in the feet or having a withered hand) because we are not blameless, and we have sin in us that we haven’t repented of.

Examine yourself. Have you deceived, or lied to, or cheated, or taken advantage of, or bullied, or hurt, or spoken evil of, anyone and not repented and sought forgiveness? Keep your conscience clear so that you may not be paralyzed but instead may bear much fruit.