THERE IS A MIRACLE that occurs early in Jesus’ ministry, shortly after he called the first disciples. Already he had performed an exorcism in the synagogue in Capernaum, in front of all assembled there. “All the people were amazed and said to each other, ‘What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!’” (Luke 4:36) He had given a miraculous catch of fish to one of his very first disciples, Peter, who “fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’” (Luke 5:8) After healing a man from leprosy, “Jesus ordered him, ‘Don’t tell anyone.’ Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed.” (Luke 5:14-15)
Something new began happening in Israel. The eyes of the faithful had been seeking for the Messiah, peering into scripture, and looking widely into the culture and its events. In a time when there were many itinerant prophets who operated within this cultural milieu, one has come who is accompanied by wonders, signs, and miracles. The word went out, far and wide. And expectations are high. Could this be the Anointed One?
The miracle we speak of doesn’t seem to take place in a traditional synagogue, but rather in a large private residence. Some evidence suggests that homes were used as synagogues in smaller villages. There are a great number of people present due to Jesus’ notoriety. “One 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.” (Luke 5:17a) The distance between the near edges of Jerusalem and the Sea of Galilee is approximately fifty miles, which is a three or four-day hike for the average person on pilgrimage over the present day ‘Jesus Trail.’ What these people heard as tantalizing rumors stirred something deep within them. Even those living on the far side of the lake would have to make a one-day journey on foot to cover the distance. Those who came were, therefore, very interested, whether they came in expectation of what might happen, or were thoroughly skeptical. Jesus does not disappoint either of those groups, nor anyone in-between.
Luke records, “And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.” (Luke 5:17b) This wasn’t always the case. In Nazareth, for instance, Mark writes, “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:5-6) This day, men deeply concerned for their friend bring him to Jesus. “Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. Because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.” (Luke 5:18-19) In response to their faith, Jesus says, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 5:20)
We are struck by this seemingly odd response from Jesus, but scripture quickly makes clear his complex reasons. The skeptics present respond in their predictable fashion: “The 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?’” (Luke 5:21)
John tells us of Jesus’ uncanny perception of men’s motivations. At the Passover Feast, also early in his ministry, many respond eagerly to the miraculous signs that he performed. “But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.” (John 2:24-25) Here, we see that same ability displayed. “Jesus knew what they were thinking.” (Luke 5:22a) He has deliberately maneuvered the unfolding of these circumstances as a multifaceted spiritual teaching point for all present. For some, this will expose their dark hidden motivations. For others, it will deepen their understanding of kingdom of heaven principles. For the expectant faithful, they will be shown the glory of God. (cf. John 11:40)
To the muttering scribes and Pharisees, Jesus says, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’” (Luke 5:22b-23) We are puzzled by his use of the word ‘easier.’ A brief look at the original Greek language helps somewhat: *“Which is less laborious for me to do?” comes closest to a literal translation. This still doesn’t solve our own querulous thinking, nor that of the skeptics. So, making his point, Jesus then says, “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins: ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’” (Luke 5:24) We are reminded that Luke earlier made the statement that, “With authority and power he gives orders.” (Luke 4:36) This fact is now displayed to all present during this miracle, and is also made clear to us through the scriptures.
The skeptics have now seen the difference between the mere rigid mental understanding of the Law, and the liberating power of the Spirit; experience has overwhelmed reason. The scribes and Pharisees may never agree with what they have seen, but they have been forced to confront their preconceptions. The crowd has had the show they came for; the notoriety of Jesus is confirmed for them with an exclamation point, and they can go home and tell their friends an incredible story. Some few will no doubt ponder this more deeply, and perhaps start a new journey of understanding Yahweh. The faithful have had their faith confirmed, and God has granted their fervent prayer. The paralytic now walks, and has been forgiven his sins. At the end of this miraculous scene, the crowd was “filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.’” (Luke 5:26b)
We wonder: Will the paralytic’s joy in his new-found physical health be matched by a deep gratitude for the forgiving of his sins? And, we are left to ponder some personal lessons. The most important is that the scriptures show a direct link between expectant faith and resultant miracles of healing, or exorcism, or the granting of any fervent prayer. Jesus says elsewhere, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:13-14) He adds, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)
Father, we stand in prayer with the father of the epileptic at the scene of yet another miracle: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) We stand in awe of your miraculous power. “The blind men came to him, and he asked them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith will it be done to you.’” (Matt. 9:28-29) And we band together across time with your early apostles in prayer: “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5) Father, ever increase our view of your incredible glory and majesty, and let our faith ever grow proportionately with that fulsome sight.
Q. Do I suffer from a diminished perception of signs, wonders, and miracles?
*Louw-Nida 22.39.
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