Rise Up and Walk!

"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" (Luke 5:17a). Mark clarifies that Jesus was in "Capernaum" (Mark 2:1a). People "heard that He was in the house" (v. 1b), likely Peter's home. "Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door" (v. 2a). And Mark continues, "And He preached the word to them" (v. 2b).

Luke notes: "The power of the Lord was present to heal them" (Luke 5:17b). It would seem that there are two reasons to assume that Jesus was healing many of these people. One, Jesus "preached the word to them" (Mark 2:2b). Where the word is faithfully preached, there is power. Two, with this preaching of the word and the presence of Jesus, "the power of the Lord was present to heal them" (Luke 5:17b). When Jesus is surrounded by a throng of people, many of whom have various illnesses, Jesus heals!

"Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 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" (vv. 18-19).

What faith! Faith that Jesus recognized and rewarded. Going to such lengths as to remove the tiles and uncover the roof where Jesus was and to let this man down by ropes tied to the corners of his bed, takes great faith in the Lord Jesus. Seeing the great faith of these men, "Jesus said to him, 'Man, your sins are forgiven you'" (v. 20).

Of course, "the scribes and the Pharisees" who were there "began to reason, saying, 'Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?'" (v. 21).

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'? 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" (vv. 22-24).

"Immediately he rose up," took up his bedroll, "and departed to his own house, glorifying God" (v. 25). Giving God the glory was the right response because it was God who healed him. Everyone was amazed at what they had just witnessed, "and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, 'We have seen strange things today!" (v. 26). And indeed they had. No one could have imagined that they would witness such a miracle that day.

But note the faith that Jesus saw. People often think that when someone prays for healing and it doesn't happen, it is the lack of faith on the part of that person that is the problem. But in this case, Jesus didn't heal this man based on his faith. No. Jesus healed this man because of the faith of his friends.

James 5:16 says, "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." When a righteous person prays, when someone who walks faithfully with Jesus every day prays, God moves mountains. He performs miracles, if necessary, not only for the healing of the one prayed for, but for strengthening the faith of those who witness the miracle. May you be so strengthened in your walk with Jesus. Amen.