Luke 5:17–26
One day, while Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and
teachers of the law were sitting nearby (they had come from every village of
Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him
to heal. Just then some men came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They were
trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; 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 middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. When he
saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” Then the
scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, “Who is this who speaks
blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus knew their thoughts and
said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier,
to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 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 stretcher, and go
home.” He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying
on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they
glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things
today.”
Reflection
·
How might I help a friend find
healing in Christ?
·
Have I received the healing
that Jesus offers and ask to understand the new life he has in mind for me?