Luk 5:17 | KingComments | STEP | The Lord continues to serve people. We see that in this history, where a new element emerges that is important for the formation of subjects of the kingdom. The two previous histories are about something to be taken away: fear because of sin and leprosy as a picture of sin. In this history it is also about something that is taken away, but also about something that is given. Sins are forgiven and strength is given. When the Lord is somewhere, always something happens. What happens results from His teaching. First the circumstances are painted. The Lord is teaching. Among His audience are Pharisees and teachers of the law. They have come from far and wide to hear Him. Also, the power of the Lord is present to perform healing. It is a scene full of spiritual life. Then we see four men who want to bring their paralyzed friend on a bed to the Lord. These men care about the paralyzed. They transport him on a bed or a stretcher, which means that they do not drag him to the Lord, but use a means that is pleasant for the paralyzed. They also know that the only chance of healing is to be found with Him. That is why he has to go there. They work for their friend and act in faith in Christ. When they reach the place where He is, they find a crowd that is blocking the way to Him. Often people form a blockade to go to Christ. But their faith is persevering and inventive. If not in the usual way, through the door, then in an unusual way, through the roof. The friends break open the roof and let the bed with their paralyzed friend sink down in front of the Lord. There they wanted to bring him and there he is. The Lord Jesus followed in His spirit all the actions of the friends. He knows and sees their faith. He answers their faith by speaking these wonderful and beneficent words of forgiveness to their friend. He sees their friend’s true problem and He solves it first. It is possible that his paralysis is the result of a certain sin. The leper in the previous history needed cleansing. This man needs forgiveness. Leprosy means that contact with others is not allowed , because a leper is an outcast. In this person we see that sin paralyzes, so that contact with others is not possible . This word about forgiveness of sins causes the scribes and Pharisees to resist. They hear something that sounds slanderous to their ears. This does not fit in their theology. Only God can forgive sins. Who does this Man think He is? It is obvious that Someone is speaking here Who presumes Himself to be God. In their observation, that only God can forgive sins, they are absolutely right. At the same time, with all their theological knowledge, they are completely blind to the glory of the Lord Jesus, that He, Who stands before them, is truly God. They do not need to speak out loud their aversion of Him to let Him know what is going on in them. As the true God He knows the deliberations of their hearts. By pronouncing this, He proves Who He is. He puts them in place with some questions. “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” ( ). For these people, both the one and the other is impossible. For Him it is both possible. Only God can forgive sins. The Lord Jesus forgives them. He is God, but He forgives them as the Son of Man, as He Who is on earth to bring there the mercy of God. He does not only forgive, He also heals. In this way He shows that He is the Messiah, for He fulfills what is written in Psalm 103: “Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases” ( ). He is the proof that God visits His people. He orders the man to pick up his stretcher and go home. The result is immediate. The man stands up before their eyes. With the words the Lord speaks, He also gives the strength to the man to obey. The man is not going to sit down and discuss whether he will be able to do it or not. He believes His word and acts. The Pharisees and teachers of the law observe it. They cannot deny this wonder, but it does not change anything to their enmity. They don’t repent through it. The forgiven and healed man carries with him the full result of what the Lord has done. His heart is delivered and his body healed. He is now carrying the stretcher that carried him. The Lord has forgiven him his sins and given him strength to walk. Thus he goes to his home, glorifying God. How enthusiastic will he have told at home about everything the Lord Jesus said and did! The first area where God’s glory must be mentioned is the area where we are “at home”. All those who have seen what has happened are filled with fear. They glorify God, and fear fills them. In their inner being they do not partake of Christ. They hear words with their ears and perceive events with their eyes, but it has no effect in their heart. All they say is that they have seen remarkable things today. They are people of the day. The impressions have faded away again tomorrow.

‏ Luke 5:17

Healing of a Paralyzed Man

The Lord continues to serve people. We see that in this history, where a new element emerges that is important for the formation of subjects of the kingdom. The two previous histories are about something to be taken away: fear because of sin and leprosy as a picture of sin. In this history it is also about something that is taken away, but also about something that is given. Sins are forgiven and strength is given.

When the Lord is somewhere, always something happens. What happens results from His teaching. First the circumstances are painted. The Lord is teaching. Among His audience are Pharisees and teachers of the law. They have come from far and wide to hear Him. Also, the power of the Lord is present to perform healing. It is a scene full of spiritual life.

Then we see four men who want to bring their paralyzed friend on a bed to the Lord. These men care about the paralyzed. They transport him on a bed or a stretcher, which means that they do not drag him to the Lord, but use a means that is pleasant for the paralyzed. They also know that the only chance of healing is to be found with Him. That is why he has to go there. They work for their friend and act in faith in Christ.

When they reach the place where He is, they find a crowd that is blocking the way to Him. Often people form a blockade to go to Christ. But their faith is persevering and inventive. If not in the usual way, through the door, then in an unusual way, through the roof. The friends break open the roof and let the bed with their paralyzed friend sink down in front of the Lord. There they wanted to bring him and there he is.

The Lord Jesus followed in His spirit all the actions of the friends. He knows and sees their faith. He answers their faith by speaking these wonderful and beneficent words of forgiveness to their friend. He sees their friend’s true problem and He solves it first. It is possible that his paralysis is the result of a certain sin. The leper in the previous history needed cleansing. This man needs forgiveness. Leprosy means that contact with others is not allowed, because a leper is an outcast. In this person we see that sin paralyzes, so that contact with others is not possible.

This word about forgiveness of sins causes the scribes and Pharisees to resist. They hear something that sounds slanderous to their ears. This does not fit in their theology. Only God can forgive sins. Who does this Man think He is? It is obvious that Someone is speaking here Who presumes Himself to be God. In their observation, that only God can forgive sins, they are absolutely right. At the same time, with all their theological knowledge, they are completely blind to the glory of the Lord Jesus, that He, Who stands before them, is truly God. They do not need to speak out loud their aversion of Him to let Him know what is going on in them. As the true God He knows the deliberations of their hearts. By pronouncing this, He proves Who He is.

He puts them in place with some questions. “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” (Lk 5:23). For these people, both the one and the other is impossible. For Him it is both possible. Only God can forgive sins. The Lord Jesus forgives them. He is God, but He forgives them as the Son of Man, as He Who is on earth to bring there the mercy of God. He does not only forgive, He also heals. In this way He shows that He is the Messiah, for He fulfills what is written in Psalm 103: “Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases” (Psa 103:3). He is the proof that God visits His people.

He orders the man to pick up his stretcher and go home. The result is immediate. The man stands up before their eyes. With the words the Lord speaks, He also gives the strength to the man to obey. The man is not going to sit down and discuss whether he will be able to do it or not. He believes His word and acts.

The Pharisees and teachers of the law observe it. They cannot deny this wonder, but it does not change anything to their enmity. They don’t repent through it. The forgiven and healed man carries with him the full result of what the Lord has done. His heart is delivered and his body healed. He is now carrying the stretcher that carried him. The Lord has forgiven him his sins and given him strength to walk. Thus he goes to his home, glorifying God. How enthusiastic will he have told at home about everything the Lord Jesus said and did! The first area where God’s glory must be mentioned is the area where we are “at home”.

All those who have seen what has happened are filled with fear. They glorify God, and fear fills them. In their inner being they do not partake of Christ. They hear words with their ears and perceive events with their eyes, but it has no effect in their heart. All they say is that they have seen remarkable things today. They are people of the day. The impressions have faded away again tomorrow.