Red Letter Bible Study--Matthew 9:1-7 (Jesus heals a paralyzed man)

 Matthew 9:1-7 (Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26)

Comprehension

Jesus has returned to His newly-adopted hometown, Capernaum.  According to Luke, it was an ordinary day (Not the Sabbath) and Jesus was teaching to a crowded room.(Not in the synagogue)  So crowded that no one could even get in the door.  Four friends bring their paralyzed friend to be healed and, seeing the door blocked, they lower him through the roof.  (Matthew doesn't mention this part, but Mark and Luke both do.)  Jesus saw the faith of the paralyzed man and his friends, and said "Son, your sins are forgiven."  This sent the religious leaders into a tizzy, thinking to themselves "Who does He think He is?  Only God can forgive sins."  Jesus knew what they were thinking, so He confirmed His right to forgive sins by healing the man's physical problems.  The man, his friends, and the whole glorified God in amazement.  

Interpretation

Jesus' ministry is not limited to Sunday morning preaching.  He takes every opportunity to sit down with people and teach them.  His ministry is not limited to physical healing, although that is what's drawn the biggest crowds.  Using the same discernment He used to determine the thoughts of the religious teachers, (who  were SITTING in the middle of a standing room only crowd.  Which highlights how important they thought they were.) Jesus realized that the paralytic was full of repentance for his sins and forgave Him.  But the crowd was there for a Healing, not a forgiving!! So to prove He has power over all of our spiritual and physical needs, Jesus heals the man's physical needs, too.  What they saw as blasphemous now brings glory to God!

Application

This story makes me think of prayer lists.  Our prayer lists are full of every physical injury, sickness, upcoming surgeries,  and so on.  It thrills us (and it should) when we see a physical prayer answered--the injury healed, the sickness is gone, the surgery was a breeze.  But is that all Jesus provides?  A fix for our physical body?  It's not wrong, in fact it is RIGHT that we should pray for those who are hurting in any way.  But Jesus was saying then--and His Word is alive and still saying it today--which is more important?  Is it easier to see the physical effects of a healing and we prefer that?  Are we in the crowd to see a magic show?  Or  are we one of the four, bringing our friend to  Jesus for healing of body AND soul?  I'm thankful we serve God through the power of Christ Jesus, who has the power to fix all that's wrong with us.