The Paralysis of Sin

Compare 2 Healings (Blind Man & the Paralytic)

• He who hears has life

John 5:1–18 (EOB: NT)

After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.Now in Jerusalem, by the sheep gate, there is a pool with five porches called in Hebrew “Bethesda.”Under these lay a great multitude of people who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at certain times into the pool, and stirred up the water. Then whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was made whole of whatever disease he had. A certain man was there, who had his illness for thirty-eight years.When Jesus saw him lying there and perceived that the man had been sick for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man replied, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, someone else steps down before me!” Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your mat, and walk!”

Immediately, the man was made well; he took up his mat and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.And so, the Jews said to the man who had been cured, “It is the Sabbath! It is not lawful for you to carry the mat!” The man answered them, “He who made me well, that one said to me, ‘Take up your mat, and walk.’ ” Then they asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your mat, and walk?’ ” But the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn in the crowd that was there. Later, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse may happen to you!” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.For this reason, the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill him because he did these things on the Sabbath.But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, and I am also working.”Because of this, the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, not only because he broke the Sabbath, but also because he called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Luke 18:35–43 (EOB: NT)

As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.Hearing a crowd going by, he asked what this meant.People told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.He began to cry out, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!”Then those who led the way rebuked him, ordering him to be quiet. But the blind man cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Standing still, Jesus commanded that the blind man be brought to him. When the man had come near, Jesus asked him,”What do you want me to do?” The man replied, “Lord, that I may see again!” Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.” Immediately, the man received his sight and began to follow Jesus, glorifying God. When all the people saw this, they praised God.

Let us compare both instances, how did they receive healing in both instances?

The blind man with his will gained new eyes - through crying out to God

In the second instance the paralytic gains life and healing through hearing Christ’s word He answers Christ “I have no one to put me in the water” The Pharisees proceed to question him saying: “Why are you carrying your mat?” he answers “The One who made me well told me to carry it.” They continue “Who made you well” and he answers “I don’t know”

John 5:6 (EOB: NT)

When Jesus saw him lying there and perceived that the man had been sick for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to be made well?”

Luke 18:41 (EOB: NT)

”What do you want me to do?” The man replied, “Lord, that I may see again!”

If we pay attention here we will notice that this man neither believed in Christ or knew that this man was the Christ but he was healed

What physical action did the paralytic do for him to receive healing?

Absolutely nothing - Other than the fact the he wants to be better, but he is not expecting to get better through Christ and he didn’t even reveal this desire That is why Christ had to ask him

Christ puts life into this man when he asks him “Do you want to be made well?”

Notice how in all other miraculous healings of Christ they all wish to be healed vocally and internally - However, here the lame man has no will answers “I have no one to put me in the pool, I have no help, I don’t know how and I can never manage to get to the pool.”

When man fell from the commandment which he had received and came under the sentence of wrath and was, as it were, sent into captivity and shame, or sent to labor in some mine, cast out from the delights of Paradise to this world, and when he came under the power of darkness and was reduced to disbelief through the error of the passions, he then fell under the sicknesses and diseases of the flesh, instead of being free from passion and sickness as before. It is also clear that all who have been born of the first man have fallen under the very same disorders. – St Macarius the Great

We know from this story (based off his unbelief and unfamiliarity with Christ as well as v. 14 “Sin no more”) that this man was suffering 38 years in his sin

And so we know this man did nothing physical to be healed - no faith and no desire to ask Christ All that healed him was the voice of Christ entering into him

Sin puts us into a deep sleep, a virtual coma. Christ continually calls us to awaken from the sleep of sin.

What does God ask from those who are dead in sins and trespasses?

Absolutely nothing - Will he request faith from them?

Maybe a will?

Think of it logically - is it possible or fair for Christ to request or ask something from someone who is DEAD in sin?

Ephesians 2:4–5 EOB: NT

But God who is rich in mercy, on account of his great love by which he loved us,even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved!

It is 100% Christ’s work - He never asks a thing from him who is dead in sin - He only asks “Do you want to be made well” and he who hears and it enters him, this one is healed

Just the act of opening your Bible to read it grants us healing

The sinner is blind, the sinner does not know the way, he does not know from where is the way of life - but blessed is he if he opens his ears to Christ

How was all of Europe converted to Christianity - Was it not by hearing the word of God? by St. Paul

The voice of Christ contains our whole will and faith Only hearing it has the power to heal us if we accept it

Ephesians 5:14 (EOB: NT)

Awake, you sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

St Mary of Egypt

John 5:6 (EOB: NT)

“Do you want to be made well?”