The small group pressed forward through the crowd.
On the fringe the throng was restless and loud.
Jesus was teaching in a nearby house with many gathered around.
The party searched for an opening to Him but none could be readily found.
They made slow progress, bearing a friend in need -
ever determined to carry out what they considered a worthy deed.
Their goal was to reach the Master and see a miracle revealed –
earnestly believing that their paralytic friend could be completely healed.
In those moments, no solution seemed probable -
their way was hampered, no entry seemed possible.
Then an idea came out of their desperation -
perhaps the top of the house offered a feasible solution.
Perchance there was a way to lower the man through a ceiling space,
so their friend could be made whole by the Savior’s loving grace.
This would not be an easy task and many supporters would be needed
to lower the man to the place where Jesus was seated.
They found a way to reach the roof and broke through the covering
and carefully lowered their friend in his bed, in the air hovering.
Most were surprised by the interruption and the effort taken,
but the tenacity of the group would not be shaken.
Hands below reached out to receive the man into the room
with many of the disciples expecting something wonderful would happen soon.
Jesus was impressed by their collective faith and then spoke to the man with palsy.
He was willing to heal the afflicted brother, both spiritually and physically.
“Thy sins are forgiven, take up thy bed and walk to thy house”,
was the message delivered to the one now healed inside and out.
The blessed man obeyed the instruction and left rejoicing,
leaving the people amazed, glorifying God, with many now believing.
All things are possible to those who believe -
faith is the main catalyst for miracles to be achieved.
June 2023
Luke 5: 17-25 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judæa, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by
what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their
thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
Mark 2: 1-12 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
Camille N. Johnson, “ Jesus Christ is Relief”, April 2023
“With faith in Jesus Christ and hope in what they had heard of His miracles, the caregivers of a man with palsy brought him to Jesus. They were innovative in getting him there—uncovering the roof and lowering the man, on his bed, to the place where Jesus was teaching. When Jesus “saw their faith, he said [to the man with palsy], thy sins are forgiven thee.” And then, “Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” And immediately the man with palsy arose and took his bed and departed for home, “glorifying God.” What more do we know of the friends who provided care for the man with palsy? We know that the Savior recognized their faith. And having seen and heard the Savior and being a witness to His miracles, they were “amazed” and “glorified God.” Jesus Christ had provided the hoped-for healing—physical relief from pain and the crippling consequences of chronic disease. Significantly, the Savior also provided spiritual relief in cleansing the man from sin. And the friends—in their efforts to care for one in need, they found the source of relief; they found Jesus Christ.”
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