Faithful Friends

Luke 5:17-26

“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.”

The Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, and they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem, why?  Was Jesus that different from the other Rabbi’s?  The answer is yes, for it was reported far and wide how the people were astonished at His teaching, because His word possessed authority.  His words had authority over sickness and evil spirits, none of the men who came that day to see for themselves had ever been accused of their words having authority over demons and the sick.

But these men were not the only ones there, they were in the house but outside was the crowd, and down the road coming to the house were some men bringing a man who was paralyzed to Jesus, they believed in their hearts that Jesus would make him well.  But they had a big problem the crowd was blocking the door, and the windows, and they could not get to Jesus.  How often the crowd in my life and I bet in yours has blocked your encounter with Jesus, and often we turn back from the calling God has put into our hearts and mind.

This is Dr. Luke’s account; “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, 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. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 

It has all been good up to now, I have no doubt some of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law are envied and maybe somewhat jealous of Jesus as a new teacher and healer, but to forgive sin, now it is clear only God can forgive sin.  You better listen to these Pharisees and teachers of the Law, only God can forgive sin, no Priest, not Billy Graham, only God.

This is the report in Luke 5:21-26, “And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ 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 bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

These thoughts fill my mind, God has not changed, He is the same today as He was yesterday, and man has not changed, mankind is as wicked and arrogant to day as it ever was, the crowd is still in place, always looking for a tortilla with a picture of Jesus or Mary on it, I call that tortilla faith, it wont take you very far, but what about the faith of these referred to as “some men” their faith changed a paralytics life, in fact it was their faith that God used to glorify Himself.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice