Yesterday, we got a glimpse of what the Kingdom of God is like. Today in the book of Luke, chapter 5, we also get to see another key component of what the kingdom of God is like. Before we get to the main point of the devotion, I want to highlight the faith and desperation of the paralyzed man.
Have you ever been so desperate to do something that you went over and beyond what was expected. Well the paralyzed man heard about a man who was healing people and he knew this was his chance. He had probably been praying all his life for healing, Jesus was in his town and nothing was going to stop him from getting that healing. If you read the scripture, he had to be lowered down through the roof in order to reach Jesus. I can only imagine how many people it would take to carry a man onto the roof, then lower him down. I’m sure it cause all sorts of kerfuffle, however, was it worth it? it sure was!
What are we desperate for? You have the opportunity to encounter Jesus, are you desperate enough to do all you can to reach Him?
The main point I wanted to cover is in verse 24,
21 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?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
The law that was given to the Israelites, was a law of Love, so that they live in harmony with each other, however, it did not accomplish what it set to be because the human heart can be wicked. We see this in the scripture today. Jesus wants to heal the paralyzed man but the pharisees are more concerned with religious standards rather than making the life of someone better. Jesus goes on to heal the man, and we realize that Kingdom of God is a lot about the heart of the people in the kingdom as much as the actions they do.
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man
17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
21 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?”
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
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