Luke 5:17-26
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
17One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. 18Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19When 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.
20When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
21The 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?"
22Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."
Jesus shows us two miracles here...One of the the body and one of the soul...In verse twenty Jesus says, your sins are forgiven...Jesus has touched the soul of the paralytic, and his soul is forgiven and healed...This miracle, one cannot see...Only the paralytic would have felt this...
Then He wants us to think, when He asks, "Which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven or get up and walk???"...Man wants to "see" miracles...So after maybe a small delay, Jesus tells the paralyzed man to take up his mat and go home...This was the second miracle, the miracle "seen" and the one miracle some might remember more (than the first miracle of the forgiving of the sins, and touching the soul)...
Jesus wants us to think more about the soul...Which is easier, for us, a healed body or a healed soul...Once we think about it, forgiveness, loving one another and putting God and others ahead of ourselves is harder...Jesus let's us know in His question in verse twenty three...The forgiving of the soul miracle, is first and should be first...Jesus saved the easier miracle for last, the healing of the body...It is important we understand that a forgiven soul is what Jesus wants us to remedy first...Jesus forgiving us, helps us get to heaven...