The Healing of the Paralytic
This story is one of the most commonly used illustrations of Jesus' ministry of which I can think. I have heard it more than many other stories during illustrations during messages. But, I think in the way I've always heard it presented, the focus is drawn toward the wrong portion of the passage. I think in reading about a miraculous healing, we miss a more important act by Christ regarding this paralytic.
17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.[a] 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
So, imagine you have traveled a 3 day journey to hear this "Jesus" person speak. Stories have traveled of his miracles and teachings, and as some of the most prominent religious leaders of the day, you need to get clued into what this guy is all about. Theologically, it is necessary to you. So, as a Pharisee of Christ's time you gather with others in a small house, and Jesus begins preaching.
Suddenly, through the ceiling, you see a paralyzed man being lowered down by his friends into the midst of the crowd. Being a house, this breaching of the roof certainly gains the attention of all those around and of Christ.
His friends, seeking to get as close as possible to Jesus, and likely to ask for healing, had gone above and beyond to accomplish their goal. Christ recognizes their faith in this odd, but hopeful act, and says to the man, "your sins are forgiven."
Come again?
Let that sink in for a minute. This is the point in the story that we typically breeze past, because honestly if you are looking for healing from a physical ailment, our human minds would not immediately catch the significance of Christ's words here. And, as we probably would do in the same circumstance, the friends and the paralytic begin pondering this in their hearts.
Meanwhile, the teachers and Pharisees see the Theological error in Christ's statement (not realizing He is God incarnate) and begin to call "blasphemy" on him for forgiving the man's sins. Two perspectives happening at the simple proclamation of these words.
Let's address the perspective of the Pharisees first.
Pharisees Perspective
Up until Christ forgives the paralytic of his sin, they are getting along just dandy with Christ's teachings. His healing power is known, and his teachings seem to be in line with their belief. But, in a moment, the Pharisees and teachers are shaken. Blasphemy was a capital offense of the time, and it would have been a dramatic, dangerous moment for anyone but the Son of God. A false prophet in that time was to be killed, and initially, this seems to be what they are thinking of doing.
"Only God can forgive!" they cry after hearing Jesus' words. Christ, having the omniscience of God, understands the thoughts of their hearts and addresses them directly. But, in doing so, he is also speaking to the murmurs happening in the heart of the paralytic and his friends.
Paralytic and Friends Perspective
So, your friends go through all the trouble of lowering you into the house, near the man whom is known two have power of physical healing. Your expectations as a paralyzed individual are that you can receive this physical healing. Were the paralytic praying in that moment, he would have been asking for a healing for his physical ailment. His mind had no focus on his iniquity before God, or other spiritual matters. He wanted to walk!
His friends, likewise, are interested in seeing the miraculous works of this mysterious Christ. So, the words leave Jesus' lips, "Your sins are forgiven," and I can almost picture the drop in the pit of his stomach as he realizes that maybe Jesus is not going to heal his physical ailment.
The Proper Perspective
Much like in our own lives, if we were to hear of a great healing going on, our human desire would be to see for ourselves if our physical maladies could in fact be healed. Hopefully a discerning Christian would be at least a bit wary initially, but we all have problems, and the curiosity would likely get the better of us. Our prayer life can be this way often as well. We ask God to do this and heal that, and generally focus at least a little on ourselves. We think of our human bodies, and their weaknesses and cry out to God to help us.
Now look back to the passage. Seeing what was going on in their hearts, Christ then asks a question. Is it easier to say, "your sins are forgiven," or "rise and walk?"
The Pharisees were probably thinking the correct answer was "Rise and walk," and it seems probable the paralytic and friends would have thought this as well. After all, they had heard eyewitness testimony that Jesus was capable of doing this very thing with those very words.
The next words from Christ are significant in explaining the whole point of his miraculous works, not just here, but in every instance throughout his ministry where healing is involved.
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
We see the point right here. Christ had offered the man something far more valuable than physical healing, but the paralytic was not aware that it was something he needed. In addition, to give proof of his power to forgive sins (Something the Pharisees were no doubt waiting to see) he consents to heal the man. The point of the healing is to show His authority and power to bend the rules of the physical world (of which he created) and heal. This proves that he is God (or to them at the very least that God could have sent him).
And, most importantly, it is a demonstration that when Christ says, "you are forgiven," the man truly had his slate wiped clean before God. This man could have died right then, and had no separation between his Creator and himself.
Application
So, when we address the real point of this passage, we see it isn't so much the fact that Christ made the paralyzed man walk, but that he forgave the man of his sins. In those days, before Christ's sacrifice on the cross, forgiveness of sin required slaughter of animals. It required blood, as it did in Christ's case as well, to satisfy the requirement of a Holy God. Christ, knowing he had that same power (being God himself) offers the man something he would not have otherwise obtained.
And yet, in our human minds, we focus on the physical healing more than the forgiveness. But, think of it like this. One hundred years from today, any of our current or future physical maladies will make no difference whatsoever. We will have passed from this life to the next. However, the question of whether or not we are justified to stand before God, our slates wiped clean, and enter into an eternal fellowship with Him, Will be of GREAT importance.
So in forgiving the man's sin, he gave him a gift 1000 times more precious than the healing. And this is the pattern for hearings in scripture. They are used by Christ to demonstrate His authority to forgive the sins of the people, and now, of us.
When we pray for health and happiness, we must also take into account that those are all temporal things. The prosperity preachers of today's false prosperity gospel would have us believe that God simply wants us to be healthy, wealthy and happy. But, the reality is, this life is not the focus of God's attention. Yes, he can heal. Yes, he may even bless us financially from time to time. But, our expectation, and in fact our celebration, should come from the fact that by His blood we can stand before God in perfect judgment, and have our sins remembered no more. That we can enter into eternal fellowship, instead of hearing those horrifying words from Matthew 7, "Depart from me, I never knew you."
And make no mistake, those words (though part of everyone's favorite 'Sermon on the Mount') are as true and convicting today as they were when spoken. We must all give an account before our creator someday, and when that day comes, will it really matter if in our 100 year life we suffered physical ailments? Or, will it be so much more important that we have the covering of salvation? That we have renewed fellowship.
Final things
When we pray to God, it is ok to make request. It is ok to desire in this life that we have some comfort. But, we should not be so immature in our faith as to think we will have it simply by being a Christian. Christ promised that to those who would really, truly follow him, there would be trial and hardship, even, unto death. This is odd to hear for our rather safe and prosperous American Christians, but makes sense across the globe as Christians are persecuted daily in less prosperous nations. His call to take up our crosses daily, means we must be so willing to follow Christ in this life, that even if it means our life is at stake, we do not waver.
This is a good way to discern where we really stand in our salvation. More than just a prayer and an altar call, we should be people of true conversion. Our hearts should desire God, forsaking all other relationships in favor of Him. The Church is Christ's bride, and like a marriage between earthly husband and wife, we are to put our spouse above all else. And so, in this great metaphor of God's most sacred bond, we understand that to really and truly follow Christ, means we must be willing to give up all else.
He may call us to rid ourselves of possessions like the rich young man. Or he may simply require us to use our talents to serve. But, we must never assume that it will be anything less than a commitment of life. This is the danger of Christianity. We do not enter lightly into it, and anyone preaching a lighter gospel than this, is feeding false assurance. Yes, God is love. And, for those in his saving grace, the love is abundant and unfailing. But, simply attending church services once a week, and leading the same sinful lives during the week is not evidence of true conversion. We may stumble and fall, but the truly converted will be of a contrite and repentant heart, and not seeking to ever fall into that same sin again, God-willing.
The paralytic in this story was blessed to have both sins forgiven and physical ailments healed. But, in keeping with God's sovereignty above all else, it is His will, not our own that will ultimately be done. How much better to be seeking that will, and to be fully within it than to be wandering lost outside?
Take a closer look at this story of the paralytic, and realize that the true point of the story, is that Christ has power to forgive sins. And, if we are of a repentant and believing heart; if we are truly willing to forsake sin, and fully commit to Christ; then, the moment we earnestly embrace that, we are saved. We may forget the day and the hour. When and where is not important. What is important is that it is true saving grace. Seek assurance, and work out your salvation daily. (Phil 2:12) Let us hope and pray for the forgiving grace of God far above any physical healing or comfort we may desire. And, God being gracious may still grant us comfort and healing. But, remembering that one hundred years from now, we will experience full and unrestricted fellowship in the bodies and place we were meant for, should give us plenty of comfort.
That, is a far more Biblical, and really a far better perspective.
