Days later, Jesus returned to Capernaum.
The crowds discovered the house where Jesus was staying.
The number of people trying to get into the house was so great that there was no room for anyone to even squeeze through a door.
Jesus began teaching them the word of God. Among the crowd were Pharisees and doctors of the law who had come from every village of Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem in order to see and witness first-hand the miracles that Jesus performed.
Jesus was demonstrating the Lord’s power and so many people had been healed of every sort of disease and infirmity that the religious leaders of Israel could not ignore Jesus.
Many of these religious leaders were just curious, others were skeptical and looking for fault as they more and more began to see Jesus as a threat to their authority.
While Jesus was teaching the crowds that had entered the home, four men who carried a paralyzed man in a bed tried to enter the home but could not because of the crowds.
So, they carried the man up the stairs to the rooftop where they uncovered the roof tiles and let the man down through the hole in the roof. They let him down right in the middle of the crowd where Jesus was teaching and healing.
Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralyzed man,
“Man, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven.”
When some of the scribes and Pharisees who were sitting near Jesus heard what He had said to the paralytic, they began to murmur among themselves.
“How can He say something like this?”
“He is a blasphemer.”
“Who is this person speaking blasphemies?”
“Who can forgive sins? Only God can forgive a man’s sins.”
Jesus knew what they were saying and thinking and asked them,
“Why are you thinking evil thoughts in your hearts? What is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘your sins be forgiven,’ or to say, ‘stand up and take up your bed and walk?’”
The man immediately stood up and took his bed and walked in front of everyone. He then left for his house, glorifying God. Everyone was amazed, and when the crowd saw what had happened, they were filled with fear, wonder and excitement.
They began glorifying God who had given such authority to a man.
