Luke 5:20-24
“When Jesus saw their faith he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’ The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, ‘Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your heart? Which is easier: To say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or say, ‘Get up and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . He said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’” (Luke 5:20-24)
Growing up my mother told me to be careful of the company I keep. In Luke 5:20, I cannot help but think how fortunate the paralyzed man was to have the four friends that he did. His friends had faith. They had faith Jesus would heal their friend. Their love for the paralyzed man united this group so strongly that nothing would prevent them from reaching their goal of having their friend see Jesus that day in Capernaum--one way or another.
The large crowd at the door where Jesus was speaking did not deter this group. Their patience, persistence and a strong dose of creativity enabled them to seize this opportunity. I can imagine how carefully these men had to lift off the tiles, one at a time, so as not to dislodge any tiles from falling into the crowd surrounding Jesus. This was not their original plan when they brought their friend to Jesus, but nothing was going to deter them from this opportunity. The paralyzed man on the mat was slowly lowered down from the roof into a front row seat with Jesus.
Jesus saw the extraordinary measures these men went to for their friend and the love they felt for him and used this as a way to teach a lesson about sin and forgiveness. Jesus could have simply told the man, “your sins are forgiven” (a little harder for the witnesses to measure), but Jesus healed the man physically as well. The scribes and Pharisees, along with all the other witnesses, saw the true power of God present in Jesus, His Son.
I imagine the four friends had expected nothing more than the physical healing Jesus performed, and were undoubtedly joyful that he would no longer be confined to his mat. But their friend was given a far greater gift that day than they could possibly imagine. In forgiving the man’s sins, Jesus gave him not only a renewed physical life, but also a spiritual renewal that would provide him life everlasting.
How often have we experienced a gift from God far greater than we had been seeking? God knows what we need, and if we are persistent and faithful, he will provide for us in ways we cannot even imagine. My mother was right; it is important to be careful of the company we keep. Fortunately, if we keep company with God, everything will turn out just fine.
Questions for Reflection:
- When you come upon “the crowd at the door,” does this deter you from achieving your goal, or do you have the determination to find another way to achieve it?
- If you were a spectator that day, what would your reaction have been watching this miracle? How would this have changed your faith?
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven,
We are in awe of the miracles that you show us each day. Help us to see the true meaning these hold for us and our faith. Let these be opportunities for us to learn more about you and the plans you have for our life. In your name we pray. Amen
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