TUESDAY October 18, 2022 

Friendly Persistence

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.
Luke 5:17-18

In the house of Peter, crowds of people came from Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem to listen to Jesus teach. Among them were the Pharisees, teachers of the Law. Remember, Jesus was approved by God, and through Him, the Father did many miracles, wonders and signs. At this time, the power of the Lord was present to heal anyone who was sick. 

Knowing Jesus was teaching in Peter’s house, certain men came with their paralyzed friend on a stretcher in hopes of bringing him to Jesus to be healed. So many people were inside the home and outside in the courtyard. It was so jammed-packed, there was no way they could get into the house to see Jesus. It was completely overcrowded. 

Do you know what they did instead to help their crippled friend get to Jesus? They got on top of the roof and started taking down the tiles! All of sudden, roof materials started falling down. They made a hole big enough to lower their paralytic friend on a pallet down before Jesus (Luke 5:19). Imagine the hard work and effort of his friends! They were very persistent. 

When Jesus saw their faith, he told the paralyzed man: “Man, your sins are forgiven you” (Luke 5:20). Jesus did not heal the man physically, He dealt with the issue of his sin first. Watching closely, the Pharisees became very uptight and self-righteously said: “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Luke 5:21). 

Jesus used this occasion to reveal to everyone that He was God. He told them: “...that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”––He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house (Luke 5:24). Read the Gospels and determine for yourself who Jesus Christ is. 

True faith rests upon the character of God and asks no further proof than the moral perfections of the One who cannot lie.
~A.W. Tozer~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!