218
The Desire of Ages
Again and again the bearers of the paralytic tried to push their way
through the crowd, but in vain. The sick man looked about him in
unutterable anguish. When the longed-for help was so near, how could
he relinquish hope? At his suggestion his friends bore him to the top
of the house and, breaking up the roof, let him down at the feet of
Jesus. The discourse was interrupted. The Saviour looked upon the
mournful countenance, and saw the pleading eyes fixed upon Him.
He understood the case; He had drawn to Himself that perplexed and
doubting spirit. While the paralytic was yet at home, the Saviour had
brought conviction to his conscience. When he repented of his sins,
and believed in the power of Jesus to make him whole, the life-giving
mercies of the Saviour had first blessed his longing heart. Jesus had
watched the first glimmer of faith grow into a belief that He was the
sinner’s only helper, and had seen it grow stronger with every effort to
come into His presence.
Now, in words that fell like music on the sufferer’s ear, the Saviour
said, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”
The burden of despair rolls from the sick man’s soul; the peace of
forgiveness rests upon his spirit, and shines out upon his countenance.
His physical pain is gone, and his whole being is transformed. The
helpless paralytic is healed! the guilty sinner is pardoned!
In simple faith he accepted the words of Jesus as the boon of new
life. He urged no further request, but lay in blissful silence, too happy
for words. The light of heaven irradiated his countenance, and the
people looked with awe upon the scene.
The rabbis had waited anxiously to see what disposition Christ
would make of this case. They recollected how the man had appealed
to them for help, and they had refused him hope or sympathy. Not
satisfied with this, they had declared that he was suffering the curse of
God for his sins. These things came fresh to their minds when they
saw the sick man before them. They marked the interest with which
all were watching the scene, and they felt a terrible fear of losing their
own influence over the people.
[269]
These dignitaries did not exchange words together, but looking into
one another’s faces they read the same thought in each, that something
must be done to arrest the tide of feeling. Jesus had declared that
the sins of the paralytic were forgiven. The Pharisees caught at these
words as blasphemy, and conceived that they could present this as a