Story 30
Jesus Heals the Paralytic
Matthew 9:1-8;Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26
The Bridge: As Jesus began to heal the sick, cast out demons, and preach the good news that the Kingdom of God was at hand (Mark 1:15), many came to see Him and hear Him.
The Story:
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- One day Jesus was teaching in a house and many people gathered there. While He was teaching, four men brought their paralyzed friend on a cot in hopes that Jesus would heal him (Mark 2:1-3).
- When they arrived at the house, it was too full for them to enter, so they climbed on top of the house, cut a hole in the roof, and lowered their sick friend down right in front of Jesus. Jesus saw the faith of the men and told the crippled man, “Your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5).
- The Pharisees, who were the local church leaders, thought only God could forgive sins and that Jesus was speaking blasphemies.
- Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’ — He *said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.’ And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone…” (Mark 2:9-12a).
- Upon seeing his healing, the people were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this” (Mark 2:12).
What does this story tell us about Jesus?
