“One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus.
Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus. But they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, ‘Young man, your sins are forgiven.’ (What an odd thing to say. It seems as though he was fishing for a reaction. He certainly got it!)
But the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to themselves, ‘Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!’ Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, ‘Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk?’ So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.’ Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’ And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, ‘We have seen amazing things today!’ Luke 5.
Remember those vast crowds? Wherever he was, he was at the center of a crowd. Here he was in the city of Capernaum; in the house of what I think would have been a rich man, given the construction of the roof in question. Wherever Jesus went, it must have been a boon for the village or town. Crowds from far away needed places to stay and food to eat. Jesus’ presence was an economic boost, wherever he went.
We have here the first studied mention of the Pharisees and teachers of religious law (the Scribes) following Jesus from place to place, some from as far as Jerusalem. As this story develops it is clear that they had front row seats, or close enough to be right in the action. That was typical for the Pharisees, who considered the front row seats in the synagogues as their rightful due. Humility was not one of their virtues. In this setting they want to see and hear Jesus…and as will soon become clear… to report back to the Jewish/Temple leaders what he is up to.
I admire the faith of the paralyzed man’s friends. They just knew that if they could get him close to Jesus, he would be healed. So they did whatever necessary to get it done, not allowing the roof to stand in their way. Most roofs in that region were a mixture of branches and mud. This roof was more substantial, able to hold a group of men, and covered with clay tiles. This was the kind of roof you could go up on in the evening of a hot day to enjoy the breeze. That’s why I think this must have been the house of a wealthier man.
But what an odd thing for Jesus to say; “Young man your sins are forgiven.” Of course he was fishing! He wanted a reaction, for he had a point to make. When the Kingdom of God came, it was to be a kingdom of reconciliation and spiritual renewal. The Messiah was to usher in this kingdom and establish God’s redeeming presence with his people. By this point Jesus was an established healer and miracle worker. He also taught and preached with unheard-of authority, clarity, and light. He is establishing his credentials. He now begins to broaden his mission, to bring forgiveness and the reconciliation of God with his creation.
In his response to the Pharisees he lays claim to a title even more powerful than ‘Messiah,’ that of ‘the Son of Man.’ The Messiah was to establish God’s kingdom on the earth. The Son of Man was at the right hand of God until the end of all things and the establishment of a new and permanent order of peace, righteousness, and justice forevermore. Jesus here lays claim to both. It is therefore appropriate and right that he says to the paralyzed man, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’ If he can’t accomplish this healing, he is not who he claims, but if he can, they must take him seriously.
This side note on the healings of Jesus: Whenever his healings are described, they are complete. In the case of this paralyzed man, he could have just said, ‘Your paralysis is gone!’ But we all know that the paralysis was just part of the problem. The muscles were atrophied. The joints were weakened and calcified. The nerves were unresponsive. The brain was unused to issuing “walk” orders. So Jesus said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home.” In one act the brain, nerves, joints, and muscles were restored and the healing was complete!
Like the Pharisees, I think it is hard for us to realize that Jesus is the immortal, immanent, irresistible God in flesh. We see him in scripture talking, walking, eating, and wrestling with mortality much as we do. So he’s just like us, right? Only partially, and not much of that. He took our flesh for a purpose…to bring the Kingdom of God, to heal, to teach, and to forgive sins. That done, he shed mortal flesh to battle the forces of evil, corruption, and brokenness for the souls of men. And if that sounds fanciful, just think of the spiritual condition of our culture and your own losses due to sin. He is our mighty warrior, contending for our complete restoration and joy.
Prayer: “Great warrior, still the civil war in my soul. Wash me, and I will be clean. Forgive my sins and clean my weary heart. I praise you for your determination to save, restore, and renew me. I trust you. Amen.”