Word got around that Jesus was teaching in a house in Capernaum, which soon became so crowded that people — many from distant towns — could not even get through the door.
The Lord was teaching the word to Pharisees, and doctors of the law from towns all over Galilee, and even Jerusalem, were sitting inside, listening. Jesus was likely teaching on God’s willingness to heal, since “the power of the Lord was present to heal”. Many who were in the house had come to find fault with his teaching, so it’s possible that’s why no one had yet been healed.
Then four men brought their paralyzed friend on a stretcher. Unable to get him through the door, they carried him up the stairs and onto the roof. Then they removed some tiles and made a hole large enough to lower him to where Jesus was.
Seeing their display of faith, Jesus said to the man, “Cheer up, son, your sins are forgiven.” Hearing this, the scribes and Pharisees began trying to work this out. “Who is this blasphemer?” they queried — “Only God can forgive sins!”
Jesus quickly caught their thoughts, “Why do you think bad thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier — to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’? or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bedding and walk’? But, so you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins (he said to the paralyzed man), ‘Get up, pick up your bedding, and go home.’
Then and there the man did as told. He got up in front of everyone, gathered his bedding, and went home, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and glorified God for giving such authority to a man. They shook their heads in amazement and said things like, ‘I’ve never seen anything like this!’ and ‘I can’t get my head around what I’ve just seen!’” (Matthew 9, Mark 2, Luke 5.)
Jesus did this miracle to prove that he had authority on earth to forgive sins — an authority claimed by no one ever before at any time. But the power of the Lord is always present when the word is preached with authority.
Religious critics haven’t changed: they still get in the way of those who need Jesus to heal them. Sometimes the very thought of what such people might think is enough to inhibit people. But when those with nothing to lose break through into the presence, paradoxes take place!
“Most men live lives of quiet desperation”. wrote Henry Thoreau. The four men’s act of faith broke through two barriers: one physical (the roof), the other theological (the thinking of the scholars who were present). What would you do to be free? Raise your hands to God in an act of total surrender, so Jesus can save you from your sins? Will you do whatever it takes?
Dr Charles S Price wanted the Baptism in the Spirit but didn’t wish to be seen asking Jesus for it, so he hid out of sight behind a piano. Then workers innocently moved the piano, leaving the great man pleading that God would fill him — all this in the sight of all present. Jesus did!
Tommy Anderson was a man who loved God but was an alcoholic. He asked a minister to help and was told when walking the streets to get down on his knees and crawl past every bar he saw. Tommy humbled himself and did exactly as he had been told. After he had crawled past seven bars, Jesus set him free, and he later served the Lord as a well-known missionary in South America.
So, with this in mind, the question is: What would you do to be free?