B4-devotions

Luke 5:17-26

Devotions for Wednesday 3rd March

This is one of the well known stories of Jesus’ healing ministry, and it occurs in each of Matthew, Mark and Luke, roughly in the first part of Jesus’ ministry. Our attention is drawn to the story for several reasons. To begin with, this is a dramatic story. Whilst teaching, Jesus was suddenly interrupted by a commotion from above, and a paralysed man was lowered in front of Him from the roof! In addition, the story deals with the difficult subject of sin and sickness in an intriguing way, with Jesus cutting through the religious presumptions of the authorities, leaving the paralysed man both forgiven and healed. We might ourselves finish reading with many unanswered questions about the connection between sin and sickness, but those who were there were amazed, and praised God (5:26)!

Before we go on, it is worth checking out what is happening here in Luke 5. After relocating His ministry in Capernaum (Luke 4), Jesus gathered some of the first disciples and made it clear that His ministry would change people; Peter, James and John left their work and followed Jesus (5:11). Next, Jesus healed the leper (5:12-16) and changed this needy person’s life dramatically. Jesus then changed the life of a paralysed man (today’s reading), but also made people think, and the Pharisees and scribes were challenged to the core by Jesus. So there is a simple structure here within Luke’s Gospel, with chapters 5 and 6 both containing stories that describe the effect of Jesus’ ministry on individuals, and these stories then form a backdrop for teaching about the Kingdom (5:33-39 and 6:20-49). We will find that a similar pattern of stories and teaching continues after chapter 7, but with different themes.

The story of the healing of the paralysed man is deeply moving for several reasons. Firstly, we discover here that Jesus was willing to be distracted from his teaching by the needs of an individual. We can imagine the picture. Important people were gathered close to Jesus to hear Him; they were Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, people who were charged with interpreting the Law for people to understand. They needed to know what Jesus taught and they would doubtless tell everyone what they thought about Jesus in due course. They certainly believed they had God’s authority!

Into this setting, the fervent faith of a few friends brought a man in dire need, but they had to push the boundaries of possibility to get their friend into Jesus’ presence, to see the man who could heal people with a word. Eventually, the man came crashing through the roof in front of Jesus, quite possibly making a considerable mess of mud, tiles and wooden roofing; and in the midst of this chaos, Jesus said ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven you’! We might think Jesus was forgiving the man for his intrusion, except that Luke explains that He said it in response to the friend’s faith. The man was healed later because of Jesus ability to forgive his sin, not because of his friend’s faith; but their faith was crucial because it brought the man to Jesus.

Jesus intended to heal the paralysed man, but He decided to do so in a manner that would address the complex situation before Him. People in those days had many beliefs about sin and sickness, and we will look at these later (see ‘going deeper’). Mostly importantly, they accepted that sin caused sickness (even though not all sickness was caused by sin), but they believed that God alone could forgive, and bring complete healing; however, their narrow understanding of God meant many were left either unforgiven or trapped in sickness. Jesus therefore healed the man and answered the questions of the authorities with one authoritative command. He told the man to walk and go home (5:24); which he did!

Those present were filled with awe. The fact that Jesus healed the man highlighted His authority to forgive, and therefore made them wonder, for they knew this must have been a work of God. Today, people still have many questions about sin, forgiveness and healing, but Jesus still asks, ‘why are you questioning?’ and he still heals!

Going Deeper

The Bible study goes deeper to look at these issues:

Some further thoughts about Luke’s concern for the individual
What did people believe in Jesus’ day about sin and sickness?
What does forgiveness have to do with healing?

17 Around then, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting nearby while He was teaching; they had come from all the villages of Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal. 18 Then some men brought a paralysed man on a bed. They were attempting to bring him in and set him down before Jesus; 19 but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and together with his bed, they let him down through the tiles into the midst of them, in front of Jesus! 20 When he saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven you.’

21 Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to think about this and said, ‘Who is this man speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ 22 But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus asked them, ‘Why are you questioning this in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven you,” or to say, “Stand up and walk”? 24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins (he then spoke to the man who was paralyzed) I tell you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home.’ 25 The he stood up before them at once! He took up his sick bed and went to his home, giving glory to God!

26 They were all struck with astonishment; they gave glory to God and were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen incredible things today.’

Dear Jesus, Son of the Father, Saviour of the world

You are the Source of our greatest joy and happiness

You are the One who brings hope and meaning to all we do

You are the Love that brightens our hearts and colours our lives

You are the most incredible Gift a woman or man could receive

Dear Jesus, we receive You today with delight and expectation!

What do you expect of life?

What do you expect of the Lord?

Will He fling open the doors of possibility

And lead you on a journey of discovery

As exciting and challenging as it is possible to imagine

To pioneer some new growth within the Kingdom of God ?

Or will He open your cautious eyes

To the call He has already placed in front of you;

The patient and exacting work of being faithful

When all around you are bored and want to be different?

Or will He open up a route for you alone,

Which is not found in drama or in doggedness;

But in daring to touch both the world and the heart of God,

To connect the unsaved world around you with its Saviour?

Whatever you are called to do, it is important.

Exploration, persistence, and unique endeavour

Unite to make the mission of God’s glorious church,

When functioning in harmony for the Gospel of our Lord.

Prayer ideas

As you eat, remember that most of it has died so that you can live. Ask God to bless it and thank Him for it.

On-going prayers

Pray for Christian Aid agencies Pray for aid agencies who are struggling to get past bribery and corruption in order to serve those in need
Give thanks to God for the fruitfulness of the world in which we live
Pray for Haiti and for those ravaged by recent storms

Read more / NOTES / GOING DEEPER / APPLICATION / DISCIPLESHIP

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