Day 35
Jesus Heals a Palsied Man
Matthew 9:2-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26
Do you remember the story of the man lowered through the roof to see Jesus?
Its story is found in Matthew 8, Mark 1, and Luke 5. In this story, when Jesus returns to Capernaum, four friends carry a paralyzed man to see him, but the crowds block access. Showing remarkable faith, they lift their friend onto the roof, dig through it, and lower him down before Jesus. Seeing their belief, He forgives the man’s sins and heals his body.
This devotional today is about that event. I named it:
When Faith Meets Action
Inside a packed house in Capernaum, a man lay paralyzed on his bed, his hope as thin as dust in the air. His friends, burdened by his suffering, refused to accept defeat. Faith, fierce and unwavering, burned in their hearts.
They knew of Jesus, the healer. But getting in to the house where he was teaching seemed impossible. Undeterred, they hatched a daring plan. With unwavering hands and great boldness, they hoisted their friend to the roof, then they cut a hole in the roof. The clatter echoed through the room, drawing startled gazes, then stunned silence as they lowered the paralyzed man right before Jesus.
Jesus, seeing their faith, not the unconventional entry, spoke words that rang throughout the room, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” The religious elite scoffed, but Jesus, knowing their skepticism, silenced them with a challenge, “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” Then, with a touch of divine power, He healed the man, his forgiveness made obvious in the man’s newfound stride.
In that act, a web of truths shimmered into view. The friends’ amazing faith, a testament that action speaks louder than words, moved not just a roof, but mountains of doubt. Jesus, the bridge between heaven and earth, showed His power to heal not just bodies, but souls. And the man, once bound by physical and spiritual limitations, walked free, a beacon of hope for all who dared to believe in Jesus.
So, the next time doubt clouds your heart, remember the man lowered through the roof. Remember the faith that moved mountains, the forgiveness that granted freedom, and the friends who made the way. And you go forth, ready to move your own mountains and guide others to the light.
Lonnie Davis