Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #26 Healing in Capernaum

When we were last with Jesus, he could no more openly enter into the city where a leper had been healed. Even though he stayed out in desert places, multitudes still came to him for healing and deliverance, so he had to withdraw even further into the wilderness. Let’s follow him from there to his regular dwelling place, the city of Capernaum.

(The color of the words in the scripture indicates the information that is unique to that gospel: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The words in boldface are recorded in all three gospels. You can read the complete section in each of the gospels at the bottom of this blog.)

Matthew 9:1, Mark 2:1,2
And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and again came into his own city, Capernaum. And it was noised that he was in the house.
And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door.

Jesus had gained quite a reputation, not only for the pure, life-giving words that he spoke, but also for the power of God he demonstrated in healing the sick and casting out evil spirits. Even now, 2,000 years later, we are gathering with the many at the door to watch and listen. And to receive from the Son of God the Word of Life and God’s healing and deliverance for ourselves and others.

Matthew 9:2, Mark 2:3, Luke 5:18
And behold, they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four, lying on a bed and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

We’ve already witnessed Jesus in several significant occasions of healing and casting out spirits: the nobleman’s son sick and near death, the man at the pool of Bethesda with a 38 year infirmity, an unclean spirit cast out, Peter’s mother-in-law sick with great fever along with many more at the house, and a leper.

We see in each case that there were obstacles to be overcome before deliverance could be received.

1. The nobleman had to leave his dying son so that he could travel for a day to find Jesus and plead for his help.
2. The man at the pool of Bethesda had not given up his hope for healing, even after 38 years. He just kept trying the only method of healing he knew.
3. The man with the unclean spirit could not control himself enough to seek deliverance.
4. Peter’s mother-in-law needed her loving family to ask for her healing.
5. The leper, of course, had to break out of the “walking dead” rules imposed by the law to even approach Jesus, much less speak to him.

Here we see a man sick of the palsy, who not only needed to be carried in on his bed by four men, but who also faced a great multitude of people crowded around the house where Jesus was teaching and ministering. Undeterred by the crowd, they found a way to get him to Jesus.

Matthew 9:2, Mark 2:4,5, Luke 5:19,20
And when they could not come nigh unto him nor bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, through the tiling they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay into the midst before Jesus.
And Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.  

These five men, including the man sick of the palsy, were determined to see that he would receive his healing—and Jesus recognized their faith. But he addressed an entirely different issue when he said to the paralyzed man, “Be of good cheer, your sins be forgiven you.” Jesus was addressing the last obstacle holding the man back from being healed.

Even today, we may feel that we are not worthy to receive God’s healing because of some long-harbored sin that may or may not have been the cause of our sickness. Sin in the heart can certainly block our reception of God’s love and healing, so Jesus is revealing that God covers it all: He forgives our iniquities and heals our diseases (Psalms 103:3). Watch how this riles up the scribes and Pharisees! (This is the first recorded incident where the scribes and Pharisees show up in the crowd around Jesus.)

Matthew 9:3-5, Mark 2:6-9, Luke 5:21-23
And, behold, there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and the Pharisees, reasoning in their hearts: Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? This man blasphemeth. Who can forgive sins but God only?
And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he answering said unto them, Why reason ye these things (think ye evil), in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

These religious leaders had a real problem with Jesus offering this man forgiveness of sins. In fact, they accused him of blasphemy—a crime punishable by death! To their way of thinking, Jesus was using an authority that belonged to God alone. (I’m sure they also didn’t like Jesus attacking their authority to control and condemn the people.)

Remember from the context of a previous record (regarding the healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda) that God had given Jesus, His only begotten Son, the authority to judge sin.

John 5:21,22,24,26,27,30:
For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

God revealed their evil thoughts to Jesus. He immediately condemned their wickedness in front of all by stating unequivocally that he, Jesus as the Son of Man, by the power of God Almighty, had the authority to bestow both forgiveness and healing. And he did so for the man sick of the palsy.

Matthew 9:6,7, Mark 2:10,11, Luke 5:24,25
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.  
And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and went forth before them all and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

There is no outward physical evidence when a man or woman receives forgiveness for their sins.  So, to prove the truth of God’s ability and willingness to forgive, Jesus demonstrated God’s healing for this man “before them all.”

Matthew 9:8, Mark 2:12, Luke 5:26
But when the multitudes saw it, they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things to day,” and “We never saw it on this fashion.” And they were all amazed, and they glorified God which had given such power unto men.

The multitudes could hardly believe their eyes! A description of their reaction in these three gospels includes a variety of words such as “full of fear,” “struck with awe,” “marvelled,” “wonder,” “strange,” “amazed,” “astonished,” and “beside themselves.” And the wonderful result was that they glorified God which had given such power unto men—one man in particular, Jesus, God’s only begotten Son.

Jesus Christ himself has paved the way for us, and today we follow in his steps with that same power of God.

Ephesians 1:7,19-23:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come;
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

I Corinthians 12:9:
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all to forgive and to heal by faith in his name!

Complete Gospel Accounts

Matthew 9:1-8:
And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
And he arose, and departed to his house.
But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Mark 2:1-12:
And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts.
Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
But I said this that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins. He saith to the sick of the palsy,
I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Luke 5:17-26:
And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

NEXT:  Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #27 The Calling of Matthew

PREVIOUS:  Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #25 Healing of a Leper