REMARKABLE THINGS
Opening Prayer
Loving Father, thank you for the friends you have put in my life who bring me to you. Bless them afresh today.
Read LUKE 5:17-26
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man
17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When 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.
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
21 The 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?”
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What is the most ‘remarkable’ thing God has done in your life? Spend time pondering, marveling, praising and giving thanks.Many ‘remarkable things’ happened that day (v 26). The fact that Pharisees and teachers ‘had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem’ (v 17) and that Jesus preached to a full house (v 19) suggests that remarkable stories about Jesus were already ‘going viral.’
A group of men go to remarkable lengths to bring their needy friend to Jesus (vs 18,19). We sometimes speak of praise that raises the roof; here is faith that removed parts of the roof! Jesus acknowledges their remarkable faith and responds with a pronouncement that is both remarkable and controversial: ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven’ (v 20). With remarkable insight, Jesus recognizes the silent storm of protest that is brewing (vs 21-23). As he looks at this man, who has been brought to him through a hole in the roof, Jesus sees beyond the obvious ‘hole’ in the man’s body to the void deep in his soul. Then he makes the man whole, body and soul. A remark- able claim about authority to forgive sins is backed by a remarkable sign (vs 24,25), the visible sign of physical healing validating the invisible spiritual healing.
‘Remarkable things’ are things worth remarking on! People are amazed and God is praised (v 26). Another story would soon ‘go viral’!
Apply
What will you say, what will you do, to help the remarkable story of God’s grace to ‘go viral’ today?
Closing prayer
Thank you, Jesus, that because of you, I have a remarkable story to tell, a story of truth, grace and mercy, and promised redemption. Help me to be a faithful story teller.
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