The Power Of Extended Faith
In modern houses, we have wall plugs conveniently located all around the house. However, when our appliance or device is too far away, we may use an extension cord to connect to the power. In Luke 5:17-26, a paralyzed man needed his friends and their faith to connect him to the healing power of Jesus. And because of their faith, the connection to Jesus was made and their friend was made whole. May you have the faith to connect others with Jesus so that He may power the transformation they need in their lives. Amen
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. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 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. (Luke 5:17-19) In the middle of teaching, some men who had a paralyzed friend interrupted Jesus to have Him to heal their friend. This Pharisees and scribes had come from near and far (Galilee, Jerusalem and Judea) to scrutinize Jesus and His teaching. But despite the presence of these skeptics, Jesus, in addition to the power of His teaching, felt the power to heal the sick. Often when there was a lack of faith among the people present, Jesus would not perform such signs and miracles. But the crowd that overflowed and surrounded the house where Jesus was teaching, believed that He was able to do miracles. Because of their faith in Jesus, these men carried their friend on a mat to the top of the house and lowered him down through the roof so he might be healed by Jesus.
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 hearts? (Luke 5:20-22) Jesus saw their faith (friends of the paralyzed man) and pronounced that the paralytic man’s sins were forgiven. The man was seeking physical healing, but Jesus used the situation to make a statement about His deity. Immediately the Pharisees and scribes understood the meaning of Jesus’ statement and considered Jesus to have committed blasphemy. While they understood correctly that only God can forgive sin, their error and sin was that they refused to acknowledge Jesus as God. They didn’t verbally express their lack of belief in Jesus’ deity. But being God, Jesus could already see what was in their hearts. And so, Jesus confronted them about their sin.
Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 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.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” (Luke 5:23-26) Jesus challenged the religious leaders with a rhetorical question that exposed their sin and affirmed His deity. Jesus then proclaimed and demonstrated His authority over both physical sickness (“get up, take your mat and go home”) and the man’s most important malady, Spiritual sickness (“the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”). Immediately, and in obedience to Jesus’ command, the previously paralytic man got up, took his mat and went home… praising God! Having seen the miracle healing, everyone there was amazed and filled with awe… and gave praise to God!
The contrast between the faith of the paralyzed man’s friends and religious leader’s lack of faith is stark. The religious leaders were rebuked by Jesus for their refusal to accept His deity. But the paralyzed man was made whole because of his friend’s faith. They made great effort and showed great faith in getting their friend to Jesus for the healing he wanted. And in the process, the paralyzed man received both the healing he desired and the healing he needed most…spiritual healing. In their trials, we can walk beside our friends and loved ones in various ways, but none is more important than presenting them and their case before Jesus. He is the one who knows what we need most, and He alone has the power to meet our greatest need. Jesus has the power to make all the difference in someone’s life, and we can be the connection for friends and loved ones to Jesus’ transforming power…. If only we are willing to extend our faith on their behalf.
Blessings,
Rev. Glenn
