What the Bible says about Miracles Of Jesus Christ: Healing a Paralytic
(From Forerunner Commentary)
Jesus sets the spiritual and physical in the right perspective. Since sin was responsible for the man's paralysis, He deals with the cause first, then the effect. All actions are subject to the law of cause and effect; for every action there is a reaction. The man's physical ailment was not nearly as heavy a burden as his spiritual corruption. In reality, physical healing is meaningless without a sound mind. Psalm 103:3 can be seen as a prophecy that the Christ would forgive sins related to sickness and disease.
Martin G. Collins
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing a Paralytic (Part Two)
Christ deals first with the spiritual problem—the forgiveness of sins—and then the physical problem—the physical affliction. Most people want it the other way around, putting greater emphasis on healing the physical ailment than fixing the spiritual problem. Solomon gives us the answer to which is more important: "The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?" (Proverbs 18:14). From God's perfect perspective, spiritual needs are always more critical than physical ones (Mark 8:36), so in this miracle, forgiveness precedes healing.
Jesus tells the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." Seeing his friends' faith, Jesus' first words to the paralytic offer simple encouragement: "Be of good cheer." His comforting support refers directly to the forgiveness of the sufferer's sins. The paralytic, troubled by sin that had caused or was causing his suffering, now had reason for optimism. Having our sins forgiven always brings a deep relief and joy, even if the physical affliction is not healed. David's psalm on the joy of forgiveness speaks of this satisfying comfort: "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit" (Psalm 32:1-2).
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing a Paralytic (Part One)Related Topics: Broken Spirit | Comfort | Forgiveness | Forgiveness and Healing | Forgiveness of Sins | Healing | Healing of the Paralytic | Joy | Miracles Of Jesus Christ: Healing a Paralytic | Optimism
In this account, five physical details represent a sinner's spiritual condition:
» First, some were too sick and disabled to walk to the pool. Sins are physically—and even more so—mentally incapacitating, keeping the sinner down emotionally and spiritually.
» Second, some were too weak to do anything about their condition. Sin leaves people without the vigor and resources to overcome it.
» Third, some were blind. Sin maintains spiritual blindness, producing a lack of discernment between right and wrong.
» Fourth, some were lame or crippled. Sin debilitates so that one cannot walk uprightly in God's way of life.
» Fifth, the limbs of some had withered and atrophied through paralysis. Sin paralyzes people's efforts to improve themselves, and without the power of God's Spirit, they are unable to produce the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:21-22).
Martin G. Collins
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing a Cripple by a Pool (Part One)