One day Jesus went to a house in the town of Capernaum. The news of his arrival at the house spread through the town quickly. Soon a large crowd gather around the house and it was so packed that there was no room even outside the door. Jesus started preaching the Word to them.
At that time, some men arrived at the house carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They placed the man in front of Jesus by breaking open the roof and lowering the man on the mat. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” But some people who had gathered there said to themselves, “This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins!” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Why do you think this is blasphemy.” Then, He said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk your way home.” He stood up at once, picked up his mat, walked his way through the stunned onlookers. Everyone who saw this was amazed and they glorified God.
A similar incident is described in John 5:1-9. There is a pool named Bethesda in Jerusalem. It had five covered porches, and crowds of sick people used to gather and wait for water in the pool to be stirred up. People had a belief that the water in this pool had healing properties. An angel used to stir up the water in this pool from time to time and whoever gets into water first would get healed.
However, there was a sick and paralyzed man who laid there for 38 years and could not walk. Jesus saw him lying down there and asked him, “Are you willing to be healed?” He replied, “Lord, I have no one to help me into the pool when water is stirred up.” Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat and walk.” Instantly, the man was healed. He rolled up the mat and began walking.
Jesus saw the healed man after some time and said to him, “Now, that you are healed, stop sinning or something even worse may happen to you.”
We can learn a few lessons through these two incidents.
Our Lord Jesus is merciful and kind hearted. He healed the paralyzed man who was carried by four men. He healed the man lying near Bethesda pool for 38 years. Jesus is kind hearted to people who say, “I have nobody.”
He is our Lord and has the authority to forgive our sins. He said to the paralyzed man at Bethesda, “Stop sinning or something even worse may happen to you.”
Jesus can read the thoughts that rummage through our minds. He realized the sinful thoughts that ran through the minds of people who had gathered at the house. He noticed the faith of the paralyzed man’s friends who carried him into the house. He discerned that the sick man at Bethesda was longing for a cure and healed him. That man did not know who Jesus was yet the Lord had mercy on him and healed him.
In a paralyzed man’s life, his body is incapacitated and he cannot do anything on his own even though he is alive. In the same manner, when sin enters our lives, our spirit is weakened leading to feelings of despair, depression, sorrow, animosity, jealousy, etc. that in turn debilitates our spirit. At this time, it is apt to go to the presence of Jesus and open our hearts in front of the one who can discern our thoughts. This will help us receive forgiveness of sins, energize our spirits, and be filled with life. Let us lead many people to Jesus through our faith. Forgiveness of sins and healing of all ailments will flow through our kind-hearted Jesus.
