Paralytic
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Sabbath day, and these men, who claimed to enjoy the special favor
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of God, were filled with madness because he had presumed to do this
good work upon the Lord’s day.
Outside of these magnates thronged the promiscuous multitude,
drawn there from various motives. Some felt an irresistible impulse to
hear the words of Jesus, yet dimly comprehended their import. They
were eager to catch every syllable of the sacred utterances; and, in
many cases, seeds of life lodged in their hearts, to spring up afterward
and bear blessed fruit. Others came from wonder and curiosity, or a
love of excitement,—the desire to see and hear some new thing. All
grades of society were represented there, and many different nationali-
ties.
Through this surging crowd, the bearers of the paralytic seek to
push their way; but the attempt is useless. They urge the necessity of
their case, in order to prevail upon the people to fall back, but it is of
no avail. The sufferings of the invalid are increased by his anxiety, and
his friends fear that he will die in this scene of confusion. The sick
man gazes about him with inexpressible anguish. Must he relinquish
all hope when the longed-for help is so near? He feels that he cannot
endure so bitter a disappointment. He suggests that they bear him to
the rear of the house, and break through the roof and let him down into
the immediate presence of Jesus.
Seeing that it is his only chance of life, and fearing that he cannot
live to be taken home, his friends follow his suggestion. The roof
is opened, and the sick man is let down at the very feet of Christ.
The discourse is interrupted; the Saviour looks upon that mournful
countenance, and sees the pleading eyes fixed upon him with a silent
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entreaty. He understands the case, for it was he who had led the
perplexed and doubting spirit to himself. He had come to the world
to give hope to the guilty and wretched. John had pointed to him as
“the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.” The divine
spirit of Jesus stirred the heart of this poor sinner, and while he was yet
at home, had brought conviction to his conscience. He had watched
the first glimmer of faith deepen into a belief that Jesus was his only
helper, and had seen it grow stronger with every effort to come into
his presence.
The sufferer had wealth, but it could not relieve his soul of guilt, nor
remove disease from his body. But divine power attracted him to the