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Humble Hero
sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and
Jerusalem” as spies. The crowds swarmed around outside—the
eager, the reverent, the curious, the unbelieving. “And the power of
the Lord was present to heal.” But the Pharisees and doctors did not
detect the Spirit’s presence. They felt no need, and the healing was
not for them. “He has filled the hungry with good things, and the
rich He has sent away empty.”
Luke 1:53
.
The friends carrying the paralyzed man tried to push their way
through the crowd, but they could not. Would the sick man have to
give up all hope? At his suggestion, his friends carried him to the
top of the house, broke up the roof, and let him down at the feet of
Jesus.
The Savior saw the pleading eyes riveted on Him. He understood
the case. While the paralytic was at home, Jesus had brought convic-
tion to his conscience. When he repented of his sins, the life-giving
mercies of the Savior had first blessed his longing heart. Jesus had
watched the first glimmer of faith grow stronger with every effort to
come into His presence.
Now, in words that fell like music on the sufferer’s ear, the Savior
said, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” The burden of despair rolled
from the sick man’s soul; the peace of forgiveness radiated from his
face. His pain was gone, his whole being was transformed. The
helpless paralytic was healed, the guilty sinner pardoned!
In simple faith he accepted the words of Jesus. He made no
further request but lay in blissful silence. The people looked on with
awe.
The rabbis remembered how the man had appealed to them for
help, and they had refused him hope or sympathy, declaring that
he was suffering the curse of God for his sins. They noticed the
interest with which all were watching the scene, and they felt a
terrible fear of losing their influence over the people. Looking into
one another’s faces, they read the same thought—something must
be done to arrest the tide of feeling. Jesus had declared the sins
of the paralyzed man forgiven. The Pharisees could present this
as blasphemy, a sin worthy of death. “Why does this Man speak
blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Looking intently at them, Jesus said, “‘Why do you reason about
these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,