The Lame Walk

Physical healing is phenomenal. Spiritual healing is life transformational. While many are content with just the first, Jesus is seeking those who desire permanent healing – healing of their soul.

The story is usually visualized of a poor paralytic descending through the roof of a small house whose roof was easy to take apart.

Historian Dr. Ron Charles tells us that this paralytic is none other than a top Roman official Lucinious Appelonious – no. 2 to Caesar and Governor of Eastern Roman provinces, including most of Israel, which was under Rome. He is assigned the quest to determine if Jesus is the promised Messiah.

During the long journey on a ship, an arrow pierced his spine in the back of the neck, rendering him paralyzed, neck down. Rather than going back, he goes forward to attend the big event to meet Jesus.

This event is organized in the Forea Consortium in Capernaum by the Romans. Religious leaders were invited to address a huge gathering of Gentiles and Jewish teachers of the law from“every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem”(Luke 5:17). Jesus was one of the speakers. The roof was probably marble and 18-24 inches thick which had to be broken by several soldiers accompanying the high official.

Constant through Obstacles

The determination of the paralytic to get through to Jesus valiantly in crisis overcoming all obstacles – the serious injury, the crowds around Jesus, not to mention the thick tiled roof.

Who and what do we seek in our crises?

Connecting Faith and Forgiveness

Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Whose faith does Jesus see? It is the paralytic’s. He calls him ‘son’ and forgives his sin. He knows the source and level of his faith. He knows all about him and his quest.

He is proving to him that he is the Messiah and God as “no one could forgive sins but God alone.”

Clairvoyant Perceptions

The teachers of the law are “thinking to themselves” negative thoughts. Jesus reads and speaks their thoughts. He never gives up on anyone but uses every opportunity to teach to win others.

Do we reach out readily and repeatedly to those hardened in their own self-righteous perceptions?

Complete Healing

The crowd just says, “Wow,” and leaves. But the paralysed man (history says) remains Christ’s faithful follower and impacts millions of lives.

What are the roadblocks to spiritual healing in our lives? How can we overcome them to receive the mighty power of God?