We don’t know much about the paralized man in Luke 5, but we do know that he had some great friends. We don’t know how the man was paralyzed. Was it from birth? Did he have an accident? Was he sinning and something happened to him? What we also know is that he needed Jesus. His friends knew that he needed Jesus and they weren’t about to let a large crowd get in their way.

Luke 5:17 (NIV) One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” 21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

The Plan

This man had some really good friends that heard about Jesus and His healing power. They loved their friend and carried him to meet Jesus. They knew that Jesus would make their friend whole. They had the passion, love and perseverance to get their friend to the one who could help him.

Luke 5:18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.

The Problem

There was a huge crowd in their way. So many people had heard about Jesus that they all wanted to see Him, to hear Him and for Him to touch their lives in some way. Today, we don’t have crowds that keep us from Jesus, we have the things of this world. We have our own selfishness, the actions of others that make our view of Jesus skewed, we even have our own ambitions that get in the way of coming to and following Jesus.

Luke 5:19a When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd,

The Perseverance

What would have happened if the friends of this man would have looked at the crowd and said, “It’s too hard to get to Jesus today?” Would it have been easier to get to Him the next day, the next week? What if they had given up and said. “Oh, well, maybe it wasn’t to be?”

What keeps you from sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with your friends and loved ones? Is it fear? Fear of ridicule, of persecution, of judgement from others? Do you hesitate to share with others because you just don’t care enough? Do we really think separation from God is not a big deal? Are we drawn into complacency because we think we have enough time?

These men decided to persevere and find a way. Their love for their friend and their passion to see their friend healed spurred them into action…drastic action.

Luke 5:19b they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

The Purpose

Jesus saw the faith of the friends, and healed the man. He honored the friends’ faith and performed a miracle so the crowd would see the truth.

20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking, so he addressed the issue. He was the true Son of God and He has the power and authority to grant healing and forgiveness for all. He used His power of healing to show the world that He also has the power to forgive sins. If we don’t have His forgiveness, then we are doomed to live eternally without God. We are lost to our Creator, so Jesus made the way for us to be reunited with God. When we have Jesus, we have the only true treasure of this world.

21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

What will you do?

• Will you overcome anything, everything, to share the good news of Jesus with those you love?
• Would you move heaven and earth to show the truth to someone that you know is not saved by Jesus?