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First Leper to Be Cleansed by Christ
157
Fixing His glance on them, Jesus said, “Why do you question
thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your
sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth
to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—“I say to you, rise, take
up your pallet and go home.” RSV.
Then he who had been borne on a litter to Jesus rose to his feet
with the elasticity and strength of youth. Every organ of his body
sprang into activity. The glow of health succeeded the pallor of
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approaching death. “And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and
went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and
glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.”
Creative power restored health to that decaying body. The same
voice that spoke life to man created from the dust of the earth spoke
life to the dying paralytic. And the same power that gave life to
the body had renewed the heart. Christ bade the paralytic arise and
walk, “that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to
forgive sins.”
Spiritual Healing Often Precedes Physical Healing
Thousands today suffering from physical disease, like the par-
alytic, long for the message, “Thy sins are forgiven.” Sin is the
foundation of their maladies. The Healer of the soul alone can
impart vigor to the mind and health to the body.
Jesus still has the same life-giving power as when on earth He
healed the sick and spoke forgiveness to the sinner. He “forgiveth
all thine iniquities”; He “healeth all thy diseases.”
Psalm 103:3
; see
1 John 3:8
;
John 1:4-10
;
10:10
;
1 Corinthians 15:45
.
As the man who had been cured passed through the multitude
bearing his burden as if it were a feather’s weight, the people fell
back to give him room. With awestricken faces they whispered softly
among themselves, “We have seen strange things today.”
The Pharisees were dumb with amazement and overwhelmed
with defeat. Disconcerted and abashed, they recognized but did
not confess the presence of a superior being. From the home of
Peter, where they had seen the paralytic restored, they went away