Daily Word Of God
Luke 5:17a, 18-22a. 23-25
Jesus was teaching one day, and Pharisees and teachers of the Law, who had come from every village in Galilee, from Judaea and from Jerusalem, were sitting there. Then some men appeared, bringing on a bed a paralysed man whom they were trying to bring in and lay down in front of him. But as they could find no way of getting the man through the crowd, they went up onto the top of the house and lowered him and his stretcher down through the tiles into the middle of the gathering, in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith he said, ‘My friend, your sins are forgiven you.’ The scribes and the Pharisees began to think this over. ‘Who is this man, talking blasphemy? Who but God alone can forgive sins?’
But Jesus, aware of their thoughts, made them this reply, ‘Which of these is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven you,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he said to the paralysed man – ‘I order you: get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.’ And immediately before their very eyes he got up, picked up what he had been lying on and went home praising God.
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- In today’s Gospel Jesus points out the strong faith in Him of the paralytic and his friends that led them to go through great extent of lowering the paralytic through the roof to get to Jesus.
- Through this miraculous cure of the paralytic, Jesus took the opportunity to show the Jewish authorities that He has divine powers and authority to forgive sins, that none others had.
- How deep is your faith in the Lord? How is this shown in your daily living and during the trials of your life? If our faith is strong, we will be able to see more clearly how Jesus is constantly present in our daily living and our needs. Spend more quiet time with the Lord in prayer.