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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke
PART 3 - JESUS' MINISTRY IN GALILEE (Luke 4:14 - 9:50)
5. Encounters with Strict Religious Leaders (Luke 5:17 - 6:11)
LUKE 5:17-26
17 It happened on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them. 18 Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus. 19 Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the midst before Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” 22 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts? 23 Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you;’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk?’ 24 But 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, arise, and take up your cot, and go to your house.” 25 Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God. 26 Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”
God is the Power, and Christ is the Power of the Lord, out of whom rivers of blessing flowed by word, deed, and prayer. Many began to follow Christ.
The religious leaders had doubts and queries him. Jesus had not studied in their schools, nor had he ever joined any of their parties. Therefore they watches him closely, and sent spies to him that they might seize on his words and acts. The proud Pharisees were known for insisting that the law of God must be observed as the scribes interpreted it and they were considered the experts, or doctors of the law. They wanted to know the mystery of Jesus’ power; censoring every word he said to pick up something on which to base a reproach or accusation.
It was the will of God’s wisdom, at that moment, that some men should bring a paralyzed man to Jesus. That was the most beautiful and powerful symbol of faith. When the men could not reach Jesus, they went up on the roof above him, took off some tiles and lowered the paralyzed man down into the room in front of Jesus, without saying a word. Their act was unmistakably a cry of faith, prayer, and hope. Jesus was pleased with this interruption and disturbance during his teaching, for he loved faith, and saw in it the hope of the believer, which pierces hardships. Do you come in supplication? Do you become pressing and urgent in your love so that Jesus should save your spiritually paralyzed friend?
Christ knows the reason for all the diseases of our sins. There is no certain sin which usually causes a certain disease, but our life that is faraway from God is the reason for our troubles and the cause of disasters in the world. Jesus began by healing the sick man’s mind. This was an introduction to healing his body. Did you hear Jesus’ word, “Your sins are forgiven you”? Fall on your knees and bow your head before the Son of God. Take firm hold of his promise immediately. This essential word belongs to every man who longs for purity, righteousness, and peace with God. Your sins are forgiven you. Believe in this gospel and you will be saved. Christ speaks to you personally, and looses the bonds of your sins. Believe in the word of your Lord, and thank him so that you may enter into a covenant with him, and his peace may flow through you. Christ himself is the Guarantor of his divine saying of forgiveness which belongs to all humanity.
When these religious spies heard this word of forgivness, they thought that none could forgive sins but God. They were right, and therefore they considered this word from Jesus’ mouth as blasphemy, and that Jesus deserved death. They were blind to his divinity, and did not sense the power of the Holy Spirit flowing out from the person of Jesus, but hated him, for he was different from them. He was from above, and they were from beneath.
Perceiving their thoughts, and reading the hatred in their eyes, Jesus exposed their condemning pride, and showed clearly their shortsightedness. He asked them why they had such evil thoughts in their hearts, and provided them with a proof of his power, so that they might learn and love faith, and receive remission of their sins.
The Man Jesus testified of his own authority: that he had the prerogative and the power to forgive sins. None of the prophets of the Old Testament foretold such characteristics of Christ. Now the Son of God reveals his privilege as participant in the power of God. By that he showed that he stood on the same level as God, one with him, and abiding in him. This testimony causes our minds to explode. However, Christ hid his divinity, and called himself the Son of Man so that his hearers might realize the greatest of all miracles: that God himself was incarnate among them, forgiving their sins by his grace.
After this crucial discussion, Jesus gave the awe-struck multitude and the critical adversaries a tangible proof which he had revealed to them before bringing it into effect: he commanded the paralyzed man by an utterance of his tongue, to arise. Those present, in amazement, saw him who had been delivered from sin, rising up, because he felt the healing love of Christ, and grasped the word of forgiveness. The joy of the Lord came into his heart. He stood up, in the name of Christ, from his bed, tested his limbs which had been stiff and rigid for many years, took up his bed, and walked on his feet indeed, praising God joyfully, and glorifying Jesus, his Savior.
The multitudes became frightened, and they prayed in their hearts. And the doctors of the law became silent, for they had seen the power of the Lord openly triumph over sins and diseases. They were defeated and, flaming with rage, and thought of killing Christ, for on this very occasion he showed his truth and the nature of his work before these spies. His initial preaching in Nazareth of the prophecy in (Isaiah 61) was displayed clearly, and all the hearts were shaken by a spiritual earth quake. Has the power of God touched you? Have you become certain of the remission of your sins? Worship your Lord, for he is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
PRAYER: O Lord Jesus, my Savior and my Lord. Thank you for pardoning all my sins, and atoning for my malice, in the greatness of your grace and loving kindnesses. I kiss your feet, worship you, love, and thank you, because you bring us eternal life. Please keep me in your righteousness, and make my life praise to our God, and of service to people.
QUESTION 45: Why did Jesus forgive the paralyzed his sins?