HEARTS AND MIRACLES (6)

“When JESUS SAW their FAITH, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you” – Mark 2:5                             

In manifesting Healing MIRACLES, GOD sees more than physical paralysis or deformation, He responds to HEARTS: “When JESUS SAW their FAITH, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you” (Mk. 2:5). In those days, people didn’t live in homes with separate bedroom for individuals. The largest homes could fit about fifty people in them, standing really close together. Let’s imagine Jesus, packed into a home that was full of people, spilling out to the front door. They stood on their tiptoes, craned their necks to see Jesus or leaned into the windows just to hear Him speak. Along came four loyal friends, carrying their paralytic friend. They had heard about Jesus healing people all over Galilee. They were sure that Jesus could heal their friend, so they carried him on a mat to the home where Jesus was.

Homes at that time did not have roofs like our modern houses. Most roofs were made with branches laid across the ceiling beams and packed with dried earth. They were sturdy enough to walk on, but could be dug through. Some houses had external staircases leading up to the rooftops. When the men approached the house, and saw that it was jam-packed, they knew that the five of them would never make it in through the front door. Yet, they refused to give up! They were so sure that Jesus could heal their friend that they did something drastic. They climbed up to the roof still carrying their friend, dug right through, assumedly with all the dirt clumps falling on the people below, and lowered the paralytic and his bed right before the Lord! What a display of Radical Faith driven by determines Hearts!

Beyond the physical manifestations of a ruined roof, there was an ensuing Battle of Hearts:

On hearing that Jesus “was in the house,” FAITH in the HEARTS of the paralytic and his four friends moved them to break through the roof, let down his bed, and get the man closer to the Lord in order to be healed. Jesus “saw their faith” tangibly through their action. There were on the other hand, doubter with opposing thoughts: “Some of the scribes were sitting there and REASONING in their HEARTS” (v.6).

On His part, the Lord Jesus Christ “perceived in HIS SPIRIT” – HIS HEART – what the scribes were thinking within their hearts. He asked them: “Why do you reason about these things in your HEARTS?” (v.8b). He then overturned their doubtful and unbelieving thoughts, and commanded Miracle Healing on the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house” (v.11). With a heart full of faith and an atmosphere of faithlessness upturned, nothing could hinder the manifestation of the miracle: “Immediately he arose, took up his bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (v.12).

Jesus was not at all angry that the men ruined the roof! He was thrilled that they had such great faith in Him that they wouldn’t dream of going home without getting their friend in front of Him. The man on the mat had come because he was certain that Jesus could heal him. But the Lord saw a need much greater than paralyzed legs. He saw the man’s sinful heart (Lk.16:15a). Jesus knew that the man was a sinner, like every man, woman, and child. He knew that the man was separated from God because of his sin (Isa.59:2). But, seeing that the man and his friends fully trusted Jesus, along with making his legs walk, Jesus gave this man the greatest gift; far better than physical healing was forgiveness of his sins. He became a part of God’s kingdom, with new life here on earth and eternity with His loving Creator.

The crippled man knew that he was helpless to help himself. He put his trust in the only One who could heal him. Let’s do likewise: Have Radical Faith in God that would silence all doubts and opposition!