Because Jesus did not want to attract crowds of people who were more interested in seeing wonders than in listening to His message, He sometimes told people whom He healed not to tell anyone about it. Instead of honoring Jesus’ request, a man whom He healed of leprosy spread the news everywhere. The result was Jesus could no longer travel openly. Crowds gathered wherever people heard Jesus was there. Throngs of the ill clamored for healing.
In chapter 2, verses 1 through 12 of his inspired account of Jesus’ ministry, Mark records one of these incidents. “When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was at home. Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them. Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him. When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—“I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.” He arose, and immediately took up the mat and went out in front of them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!””
Scripture tells us very little about the man who was paralyzed. We do not even know his name. However, there must have been something very special about him to inspire such love and loyalty in his four friends. Think about it. Would you be willing to destroy another man’s property in order to bring one of your acquaintances to a doctor? If the crowd was so dense you couldn’t reach the doctor, wouldn’t you wait until the doctor came out of the house to ask him to heal your loved one? These men would not wait. No doubt breaking through the roof made a great deal of noise. No doubt people shouted at them, demanding to know what they were doing. No doubt the crowd around Jesus was upset by the dirt and debris which fell on them. None of these things deterred these men from accomplishing their purpose. The shouts and anger of the crowd meant nothing to them. It did not matter to them that they were liable for the expense of repairing the roof. They kept on until the sick man lay in front of Jesus.
Another remarkable thing about the paralytic’s friends is their faith. They had no doubt that Jesus could heal the man. They had no doubt that Jesus would heal him. Their only question was how to bring their friend to Jesus’ attention. When they accomplished this, it was their faith which moved Jesus to grant their wish.
This illustrates an important aspect of faith. Faith must prompt us to act on our convictions. Otherwise faith is of no use. In this incident, if Jesus did not know about the man how could He heal him? It would have done no good at all if the mens’ conviction that Jesus could heal their friend did not move them to bring him to Jesus. James writes, “…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17 NIV)
If the men’s method of bringing their friend to Jesus was unusual, Jesus’ response was also unusual. They came for healing. Instead, Jesus forgave the paralytic’s sins. This brought immediate condemnation from the teachers of the law who were present. They quite rightly asked the question of who, except God, has the ability or the right to forgive sins. The answer, of course, is that no one besides God can do so. However, this raises an even more important question: If only God can forgive, then who is Jesus? Is He merely a man? Or is He something more? The teachers of the law were certain that Jesus was only a man. Therefore, they came to the conclusion that He blasphemed when He forgave the paralytic’s sins.
Jesus’ next action challenged their assumptions about Him. The teachers of the law had not voiced their objection aloud. It was in their hearts that they accused Jesus of blasphemy. Even though they remained silent, Jesus knew what they were thinking. This should have alerted them that perhaps their conclusion that Jesus had spoken blasphemy was not correct. While it is true that men cannot forgive sins, they cannot read another person’s thoughts either.
To settle the matter, Jesus pointed out that it is just as impossible for a man to heal a paralytic as it is to forgive his sins. If Jesus could do one, then why should there be any question about His ability to do the other? Then, Jesus healed the paralytic with a command.
The healing was instantaneous. There was no long period of gradual recovery. There was no need of physical therapy. The man did not need to learn to walk again. Jesus spoke and his ability to stand was restored. His muscles regained their strength. He could not only walk without assistance, he could also pick up an awkward load and carry it out of the house without difficulty.
This incident helps us understand why Jesus performed miracles. He did not do it to amaze people. He did not do it to create a following. Though Jesus did heal and relieve suffering, that was not His primary purpose for the miracles. Instead, He used the miracles to inform and teach. In a previous incident He healed a leper as a testimony about Himself to the priests. In this incident Jesus used the healing to show the teachers of the law who He was. Yes, Jesus was a man. He was subject to the same problems, emotions, temptations, difficulties and stresses as any other human being. Yet, He also was much, much more than a man. In Jesus, we see the divine nature. The Apostle Paul writes that, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” (Colossians 1:15 NIV)
When the people saw what Jesus did, they praised God. What is our response? What is our opinion of Jesus? Will we accept that He is God, come down in human form or, like the teachers of the law, will we accuse Him of blasphemy?