Jesus Heals a Paralytic Who Was Let Down From the Roof

Luke 5:17–26 17 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 Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 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. 19 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. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 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. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Christianity is our greatest commitment

It was April 25th, 2014 and I was as nervous as a overgrown blade of grass on a fresh Spring morning. I knew what was ahead of me. I was about to set in stone a decision I had already made in my mind months earlier. Looking back, I didn’t really realize all that decision entailed. I knew it was a big one, but to what extent I didn’t know. but nonetheless, I stood on a stage, looking into Malerie’s eyes said “I do” and made a committment that would alter the rest of my life . It wasn’t a half-hearted statement, it was a committment. I committed to love, honor, and cherish Malerie. It wasn’t based on how I was feeling, (sickness or health), It wasn’t based on circumstances, (in good times and bad), it wasn’t based on finances (for richer or poorer), and the only reason this committment was going to be fulfilled was if death itself came knocking on my door. This was such a series committment we invited lots of people to witness this committment. But more importantly we made this committment with one other person involved, we made it with our Heavenly father. Since then, our lives has been entwined in every aspect. We know each other more than any other person in our lives. We are best friends. But it was all based on that committment. You know what Christ calls us? His Bride. We should have the same committment to Christ as we do to our mate.

Look at the committment these friends had to their faith.

They struggled to carry a man

they faced financial burden as they took apart a strangers roof,

they faced embarrasement and ridicule for what they did. They just didn’t care, they were committed.

Jesus even forgives their friend after he sees their comittment to their faith.

Here’s the question - is our faith a hobby or a committment? My guitar is a hobby, I haven’t picked it up since we moved into the trailer, and that’s ok, it’s just a hobby. Do we love God when it’s convenient? only in the good times? only for richer but not for poorer?

Forgiveness is our greatest need

The people probably looked at this paralyzed man and saw his physcial need as his greatest need. But that’s not what Jesus sees. I’m sure this man knew his sin, otherwise he would have protested. But instead, he goes on to glorify God

John 16:8 “And when he [Holy Spirit] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

The world has been convicted of their sin. They know guilt, they know remorse. Now they may have seared their conscious but God can overcome even a seared conscious.

The world needs a balm for their sin-sick heart. Jesus is that balm. He is able to forgive the deepest, darkest sins of our heart. This world’s greatest needs lies in a forgiveness of their sins.

The Miracles of Jesus is our greatest proof

The group of people had questions in their mind. Afterall, forgiveness of sins was something unseen. This is why their skeptical minds reasoned within themselves. “of course He’s going to say that, nobody can proof he didn’t forgive this man’s sins.”

So look what He does, he does something that is impossible to disprove. He heals a man who was obviously paralyzed.

To the one who thinks our faith is vain, look no further than the greatest miracle of all time, Jesus raising himself from the dead.