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156
From Heaven With Love
Jesus was teaching in the house of Peter, His disciples close
about Him. And “there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting
by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and
Jerusalem” as spies. Outside thronged the multitude, 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 discern
the Spirit’s presence. They felt no need, and the healing was not for
them. “He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He
hath sent empty away.”
Luke 1:53
.
The bearers of the paralytic tried to push their way through the
crowd, but in vain. Must the sick man 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.
[174]
The Saviour saw the pleading eyes fixed upon Him. He under-
stood the case. While the paralytic was at home, the Saviour had
brought conviction to his conscience. When he repented of his sins,
the life-giving mercies of the Saviour 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
Saviour said, “Son ... thy sins be forgiven thee.” The burden of
despair rolled from the sick man’s soul; the peace of forgiveness
shone out on his countenance. 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 urged no
further request, but lay in blissful silence. The people looked on
with awe.
The rabbis recollected how the man had appealed to them for
help, and they, refusing him hope or sympathy, had declared he was
suffering the curse of God for his sins. They marked the interest with
which all were watching the scene and 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 paralytic forgiven.
The Pharisees could present this as blasphemy, a sin worthy of death.
“It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” RSV.