The Healing of the Paralytic in Capernaum
The Lord Jesus Christ taught us to pray not only for ourselves but also for others, for our neighbours; for by His love, the Lord imparts mercy to those for whom others are praying.
While in the city of Capernaum, Jesus Christ taught in one home. The inhabitants of the city, as soon as they heard that he was at the house, gathered together in such great numbers that there was no longer room for them, not even near the door. Among the number of listeners, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law who had come from every village of Galilee, Judea and even from Jerusalem.
While preaching, the Saviour performed many miracles and healed the sick.
At that time, four men came bringing to Him a paralytic on a bed, and they sought to bring him in the house to the Saviour, but they found no way to make their way in because of the crowd of people.
Then, they went up on the roof, made an opening and let down the paralytic on the cot straight to the feet of the Saviour. When Jesus Christ saw the faith of the people who brought the sick man, He said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”
The Pharisees and the scribes began to question in their hearts, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Jesus Christ knowing their thoughts said to them, “Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say ‘Rise and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, I say to you “Rise, take up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose before them, took up that cot on which he laid, and went home glorifying God for receiving mercy.
Thus, the Lord healed the sick man by the faith and prayers of his friends. When the crowds saw it, amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe saying, “We have seen strange things today; we never saw anything like this!”
Note: See the Gospels of Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26.
by Fr. Seraphim Slobodskoy)