More than a healing

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” –Mark 2:5 (NIV)

“Yes, that’s great, Jesus, but we have a more pressing need at the moment.” The scripture doesn’t record such a statement, but such a thought might have crossed the minds of the friends who brought the paralyzed man to the Teacher. They had heard of the great and wonderful things Jesus was doing – casting out demons, healing all kinds of diseases, speaking and teaching with real authority. But could He help their friend?

They packed up and went to where Jesus was. Bear in mind that a disabled person in that culture would probably not have had many friends outside his own family. Had this man always been paralyzed? Perhaps his paralysis was the result of some accident. Perhaps these were "pre-paralysis" friends. Whatever the case, they were good, true friends. Unfortunately, when they got to the house, it was too crowded to enter, much less carry in a pallet.

But these friends believed Jesus could help and they were determined to get their friend in front of Him. The roof could be repaired later! As the crowd strained to hear every word, the noise over Jesus' head grew louder, some dust began to fall, daylight peeked through, and the teaching came to a halt. As people watched, the man was lowered into their midst, and the crowd had to make way. Jesus must have been smiling and shaking His head. In a display of extravagant grace, He addressed the man with a term of affection – then forgave his sins.

“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” –Mark 2:7 (NIV)

The paralyzed man had not asked for forgiveness. In fact, no words from the man are recorded in the gospels, though Luke’s account tells us he praised God all the way home. There would have been some in the crowd who believed the man’s paralysis was the result of sin – his or his parents’. Add the fact that there were those present who questioned Jesus’ authority to utter such words at all. Jesus took the opportunity to make an identity statement even as He addressed the core need of the paralytic.

A good friend brings his friend to Jesus. When we walk with a friend who is going through divorce, when we pray with a friend over an errant son or daughter, when we hold the hand of a friend who is desperately fighting addiction, or pick up the phone after they hear the diagnosis no one wants to hear…. These and a thousand other situations are our opportunities to punch a hole in the roof and deliver someone, a friend who in that moment didn’t possess the strength to get there on his own, into the presence of Jesus.

Sometimes we are the friend in need. Aren’t you glad He has the power, and the authority, and the extravagant grace to not only heal the immediate hurt, redeeming it for our good and His glory, but to heal the ultimate need of our heart? Jesus told the paralytic to arise – very cool. Jesus will one day tell the former paralytic to “Arise!” for his final reward – VERY, VERY COOL.

This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” –Mark 2:12b (NIV)