The Right Healing

Luke 5:17-25: 

17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.

20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 

25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”

This must have been quite a scene - lowering a paralyzed man down from a roof in the middle of a huge crowd. Not something you see every day! 

I think it is interesting that Jesus’ initial reaction to this faith wasn't to heal this man’s body, but to forgive his sins. That, of course set the stage for unbelief in the Pharisees and then eventually healing the man … but, His initial reaction was to forgive his sins. That is why He was sent here – to take our place on that cross of judgment. To bear my sins and yours. To give us the ability to come before the throne room of grace boldly in our time of need. 

Jesus knew that regardless of what happens to this body in this life, it is the eternal life that really matters. If, as Christians, our ultimate goal is to be like Jesus, then we should strive to have this same mentality, as difficult as it may be sometimes. We need to put our trust in Him, and Him alone. Not what the world says, or what our flesh wants. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.