Luke 5:17 – 26 A Paralyzed Man Cured, Part I

Back from a week's vacation. Had a wonderful time with a few minor hiccups. Paula

Luke 5:17 – 26 A Paralyzed Man Cured, Part I

One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set (him) in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, "As for you, your sins are forgiven." Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, "What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home." He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, "We have seen incredible things today."

In the first half of this passage, the friends of a paralytic go to great lengths to get him into the presence of Jesus to be cured. They cannot get him through the crowd so they take him up on the roof, remove part of it and lower him down. What determination! What belief! Jesus acknowledges their efforts and their faith - which is integral to the cure happening. In many stories of miracles in the Bible, two things must be present – the power of God (through Jesus or a disciple) and the faith of the miracle seeker. Without that faith being present, the miracle does not happen. If you have the gift of faith, praise God for it.