Thoughts for the Day

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ‘Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and take your mat and walk”? 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, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) have much in common and we believe that Mark's Gospel was written first and used by Matthew and Luke, along with their own material, for their different "markets" as it were. Today's account of the healing of the paralysed man is in all three Gospels but Mark's is a much fuller version. We see with the healing of the leper that the man was healed because of his total faith in Jesus, now we see that the paralysed man is healed because of his friends' (and possibly his own) faith, and because of their initiative and hard work.

Jesus has been preaching and teaching in Galilee and word of this new Rabbi has travelled fast. There are crowds around Simon's house when the four men arrive carrying the paralysed man on his pallet, and they cannot get in, so they do the obvious thing - they climb the stairs to the roof where many people slept at night or as we know Peter was one day to have a vision (Acts 10.9), and makes a space in the roof in order to let him down on ropes to Jesus.

The people would have understood Jesus' reference to sin, for it was widely believed that sickness was associated with sin. For the first time, however, there is opposition to a healing. Mark seems to infer, unlike in the other Gospels, that Jesus knew the thoughts of his accusers. He says the scribes were questioning his actions "in their hearts" and that Jesus saw this "in his spirit". All three Gospels mention that Jesus uses the term "Son of Man" of himself, which would have been understood by people as referring to Daniel's prophecy (Daniel 7.13-14) concerning God's Messiah. The people in the meantime are astounded by the whole event and glorify God.

God's Kingdom comes closer when we act together at Christians; when we confess our unworthy thoughts; and when we glorify God for His goodness to us.

Lord Jesus Christ,
help us to work together for the sake of others,
and to pool our talents
to achieve better outcomes.
May we find pleasure in working harmoniously
and not allow unworthy criticisms to intrude
when faced with challenges.
Keep us focussed on the bigger picture
which is to glorify You.
Amen.