Luke 5:17-26
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
17One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. 18Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19When 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.
20When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
21The 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?"
22Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."
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The story of Jesus healing the paralytic after he is lowered through the roof is told in Sunday School classes all over the world -- I'm sure I've even seen my 3- and 5-year old children come home from church with pictures they've colored of this event.
And it's a great story. There is such a crowd pushing in to see Jesus at this point that people can't even get in the door of the house he was at. But the friends of the paralyzed man are intent on getting him in to see Jesus. A home during this time usually had a mud or grass thatch roof, I believe. The image of a man being lowered down from the roof, right into the middle of the crowd where Jesus was speaking -- it's a very brash display of faith.
But what does Jesus do? He says, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." That may not have been what the pals of the paralyzed man were hoping for. Not to mention that it really shocks people, because forgiving sins is not something that people or even rabbis have the authority to do.
The text states that Jesus knew the thoughts of the Pharisees and the critics, even though they didn't necessarily verbalize anything. It's quite possible there was some serious tension in the room after Jesus forgave the man's sins, though, because Jews did not take kindly to that level of "blasphemy."
So what does Jesus do? He says, okay, sure, anyone can SAY that someone's sins are forgiven. But so you know that I DO have the authority to do this, I'll heal him. Get up, take your mat, and go home.
I imagine it was tough for them to respond to that.
posted by FTN @ 9:20 AM
15 comments
15 Comments:
What about Teshuva? How does that fit in here?
~~Surfie~~
I'm thinking that you're wondering about the paralyzed man and why the Scriptures don't indicate the intention of his heart... was he truly repentant or making teshuva (a "return" I believe...) or not?
Let me know if I'm on the wrong track.
I guess that we can only assume that there was more There than what was recorded. Or that Yeshua knew the contents of the man's heart.
I believe that forgiveness is given when a person is repentant. But, in it's bare essence... all forgiveness is a free gift of God. Should He chose to bestow it upon someone not repentant, I suppose that would be His perogative and done for the greater Good and Purpose of God.
Really, no matter how repentant we are, or how much Teshuva we make, none of us are worthy of God's forgiveness, are we?
Thanks, again, Flutterby.
Question: Why would none of us be worthy of God's forgiveness?
~~Surfie~~
I think I said it wrong. I think the word "merit" might be a better choice than "worthy".
I see God's forgiveness, His willingness to overlook and cover my trespasses, as a gift freely bestowed because of His great lovingkindness. There is no act of teshuva big enough for this mortal frame to undertake that could ever merit such a gift from One so holy, so set-apart.
I see Teshuva not as my attempt to garner His forgiveness; but as my response to the knowledge that He is ever willing to forgive.
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Your question concerning Worth brings up the issue of "how God sees us". And even more, "how do we think God sees us".
What is your opinion on this?
I'd offer something here in response, Surfie, but most of it would probably be reiterating something similar to what Flutterby said. I think the idea of "not being worthy" is more of an idea that nothing WE can do can get us there. It's purely something HE offers.
I would have to say that He views me as His child, just as he did Jesus.
From a maternal point-of-view, I love my kids no matter what. They fall down, I kiss them, I love them, I forgive them, and I encouraged them to try to learn from their mistakes or lack of knowledge/experience.
If one were to say to me that they were not worthy of my forgiveness because I gave birth to them, loved them, helped them, guided them, educated them, etc., I would feel like a major shit (pardon the cussing, but it fits here -- for me).
Back to the Planet Earth thing -- maternal and paternal instincts are super strong for humans and animals alike.
I'd like to believe that was intentional and for a higher purpose other than just survival on a basic level.
~~Surfie~~
Added to say: Even if they (my kids) made the same mistakes over and over, I would still love them and support them (emotionally and spiritually) no matter what.
There would be no condition on my love based on merit(s) or worthiness.
~~Surfie~~
I think in a way, you've got an excellent point. God's love is in no way dependent upon our actions. He loves each of us individually, unconditionally, and wants that relationship with us. Nothing we can do can make him love us more, and nothing we can do can make him love us less.
At the same time, the perfect and holy nature of God makes the analogy of "young children making tiny mistakes" a bit misleading. Our sin, no matter how "little" we might consider it to be, separates us completely from God. So perhaps we could go further and use an example of a grown man that rapes and murders a string of children (or some other heinous crime). Does this man's Mother still love and support him?
Perhaps. But some might say that this man is not worthy of that love.
Either way, the point is that, as you said, God DOES love us as children. Whether or not we are truly "worthy" of that may be a matter of semantics, and how truly depraved you and I believe humankind to be.
FTN,
This is where the logic gets really circular for me.
We are born sinners, correct? Therefore, we sin; however, this sinning separates us from God, but that's how he made us.
I don't know. It's confusing.
~~Surfie~~
I did realize something though after reading a little more carefully.
Teshuva was the ONLY practice for sinners and therefore, when Jesus said he could forgive, they (of course) thought him blasphemous.
Therefore, his only recourse was to heal the paralytic to "prove his point," for lack of a better phrase.
~~Surfie~~
Actually, I don't believe that God created humans as "fallen" (or Born Sinners, if you will.) He did, however, create humans with Free Will. Adam and Chava used this free will to choose to sin, and thus, all humanity is accursed.
God didn't make us this way, but He did make a way for us to be restored to Him.
*****************
I am curious as to why you think Teshuva was the only practice for sinners to receive forgiveness? I think that this is something that is not grounded in Scripture.
Teshuva is the outward expression of an inward repentant heart. It is taking the steps towards righting one's path, making reparation and restitution. In this sense, it displays one's desire to be forgiven. But forgiveness is still meted at the discretion of the wronged.
If someone wrongs me, it is my choice to forgive. Their display of teshuva (if you will) may inspire good will in my heart, etc. but the decision to forgive cannot be forced or twisted out of me by a show of repentance. Forgiveness comes out of my lovingkindness being displayed.
How much more odd would it be for us to assume that we could input a "formula" that would result in forcing God's hand to forgive us. He can forgive Who, What, When, Why and However He likes!
Surely the Master of the Universe has more autonomy than His created beings?
Getting back the to instance of the paralyzed man. I don't believe that people thought it blasphemous that a man could be forgiven without having performed a measure of Teshuva (and, we cannot be certain from the account that the man Hadn't been repentant...). What raised their ire was that Yeshua was claiming to Be God. Only God can forgive sins.
Yeshua didn't display a new way of forgiveness (ie: from a man who spoke for God) that he backed up with His power to heal. No, He showed His power that men might know that He was God, displayed in the flesh and as such had the authority to forgive sins.
Let the wicked one leave his way and the sinful man his thoughts; let him return to HaShem and He will show him mercy; to our God for He is abundantly forgiving." Yeshaya (Isaiah) 55:7
The word teshuva means return. If a person violates one of HaShem's commandments (mitzvos), he is required to "return" to God. Teshuva consists of three basic steps:
Admitting your sin(s) to HaShem.
This step is called vidui.
****This is a private matter. In general it is not proper to tell other people about the wrong things you have done.***
(emphasis mine)
Feeling regret that you sinned.
Making a commitment not to repeat the sin.
~~Surfie~~
Here's a good link.
http://www.crosscurrents.org/blumenthal.htm
~~Surfie~~
It took me a few days to get to it, but that was definitely an interesting article.
I didn't see this sentence in the article, but the part you wrote in your earlier comment... "In general it is not proper to tell other people about the wrong things you have done" was interesting to me. One of my biggest concerns in many Christian churches is that lack of vulnerability, honesty, and authenticity... People DON'T talk about their struggles and sins very often, and I think it's a problem.
Sorry, FTN. I lost my link for it in my process.
Here it is:
http://home.aol.com/lazera/teshuva.htm
~~Surfie~~
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