The man lowered through the roof
Jesus was teaching inside a crowded house when four men arrived carrying a friend who was paralysed. They wanted to bring him to Jesus, but the crowd made it impossible to enter.
Refusing to give up, they climbed onto the roof, made an opening and lowered their friend down in front of Jesus.
Jesus saw their faith and spoke first to the paralysed man about something deeper than his physical condition. He told him that his sins were forgiven.
Some religious teachers silently objected. They believed that only God could forgive sins, and thought that Jesus had claimed an authority that did not belong to him.
Jesus knew what they were thinking. To show that he had authority to forgive sins, he told the man to stand, pick up his mat and go home. The man stood immediately and walked out in front of everyone. The crowd was amazed and praised God.
Christians believe that this story reveals both the compassion and authority of Jesus. He saw the man’s physical need, but he also saw his deeper need for forgiveness and a restored relationship with God.
By forgiving the man’s sins and then healing him, Jesus acted with an authority that Christians believe belongs to God. The story therefore helps explain why they see Jesus as more than a teacher or healer: they believe that he is God, who came to forgive, restore and give people new life.
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