When Jesus healed a paralyzed man is a story recorded in Mark 2:1-12. But it involved more than a miracle. Here are some lessons for us today.
When Jesus healed a paralyzed man he was impressed by the show of faith
In this passage Jesus taught a crowd of people in a home. It was so packed that when four men brought a paralyzed friend for Jesus to heal they couldn’t get through the front door. So they climbed to the roof, cut a hole in it, and let the man down on a bed. Impressed by their show of faith, Jesus told the man his sins were forgiven.
Religious leaders in the crowd were outraged. Who did Jesus think he was? Only God could forgive sin! Jesus knew their thoughts and acknowledged that merely saying, “your sins are forgiven” proved nothing. To make a claim was easy. Proving it something else. Like stamping a visible forgiveness halo over the man’s head.
Faith is what makes Christianity so hard for many people to accept. Because faith is intangible. It requires a personal decision of belief followed by an action. And without it, you will never please God.
So Jesus did something tangible and much more impressive than a visible forgiveness halo. He instructed the man, “rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” AND HE DID.
It visibly demonstrated Jesus’ divine power to heal and therefore, his authority to forgive sin. But faith is always our part to play.
When Jesus healed a paralyzed man he also healed his spiritual brokenness
The paralyzed man sought physical healing. But Jesus also healed his spiritual brokenness. The passage doesn’t identify the man’s sin but it must have been pressing because Jesus addressed it first.
Maybe bitterness in his heart because of his paralysis. He blamed God or someone else who caused it. Or perhaps something unrelated to his paralysis. The point is that sin in the heart takes many forms and paralyzes you as much as a physical handicap. Sins like…
Anger
Jealousy
Pride
Sexual immorality
Unforgiveness
To name just a few. They consume our thoughts and darken our hearts. Jesus recognized whatever it was in the paralyzed man’s life and released him from it.
And he does the same for us. Because sin holds you captive, damages relationships, and separates you from God. But the forgiveness through Jesus Christ heals your spiritual brokenness and sets you free.
When Jesus healed a paralyzed man some people still rejected him
You’d think in such a dramatic, miraculous healing that everyone present would believe in Jesus and follow him. But no. There are always people who reject Jesus, despite the evidence. And in this story, ironically, it was the religious leaders.
But people also reject Jesus today. Why? Maybe because you…
Think following Jesus involves too many rules
Want control
Have a lifestyle you won’t give up
Of course there are many other reasons too. Because to follow Jesus you must…
Recognize you’re spiritually broken
Make a decision based on faith
Commit your life to following Jesus
What the paralyzed man did was simple. He approached Jesus in an act of faith. The same is true for us today although it’s not a popular or easy life. But one with purpose, meaning, and spiritual freedom. Oh yeah. And the promise of a really cool life following this one.
When Jesus healed a woman’s blood disorder. It’s a story found in Luke 8:43-48 that demonstrates the compassion and care God has for every person.
When Jesus healed a woman’s blood disorder. It was a story within a story.
When Jesus healed a women’s blood disorder, he was actually on his way to heal someone else. He was responding to Jairus who was identified as a ruler of the temple. Jairus implored Jesus to go with him and heal his seriously ill daughter who was at home.
Jesus agreed and followed Jairus, pressed in closely by a crowd. And within that crowd was a woman with an incurable, blood flow condition. Down to her last penny. Her last hope. And final choice. Jesus had healed so many other people, surely he could heal her too.
Her blood flow made her ceremonially unclean. A social outcast. And she shouldn’t even be among people in a public setting. But she was desperate. Probably trying to keep a low profile and avoid calling attention to herself and blend into the crowd. But if only…if only she could get close enough…reach far enough…and just touch his clothes. That was all it would take.
When Jesus healed a woman’s blood disorder. It demonstrated that Jesus gives us his full attention
He felt the power leave him
Likely, Jairus and Jesus were in a hurry. But still, Jesus paused. He felt his divine, healing power flow out of him and wanted to know whose touch caused it. And it raises a question because in such close quarters, many people must have brushed against him. What made this touch different? In other words, why did his healing power not flow out on every random touch?
Of course, the mystery of why God miraculously heals some and not others still puzzles us today. But what is clear from the story is how deeply God individually cares about every person. He didn’t let the social status of Jairus take priority over the woman’s need. He stopped and gave her his full attention.
And it demonstrated something else. Jesus cared about her physical need, but even more about her spiritual need. Because physical healing lasts only for this life while spiritual healing lasts for eternity. So our spiritual need is always God’s greatest priority.
When Jesus healed a woman’s blood disorder. It demonstrated the power of faith
Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace
Jesus says what made the touch different. The woman’s action demonstrated her faith. The Bible has much to say about faith. Especially the importance of putting our faith in action. And the woman did so in a bold and risky manner. Of course, faith doesn’t guarantee a miraculous physical healing in every case. But it does guarantee a spiritual healing.
And notice that Jesus called her “daughter.” A term of endearment. Of intimate, personal relationship. And of complete acceptance and unconditional love.
The word for “peace” is the Greek eirene and primarily communicates the idea of a lack of conflict and hostility. However, the Hebrew word for peace is Shalom and carries the idea of wellbeing and a right relationship. And specifically, a right relationship with God. In other words, peace with God means you are in a right relationship with God.
That is the essence of Biblical faith. The woman’s faith in this story didn’t just heal her physically, but also spiritually in her relationship with God. And is where you experience the most complete sense of peace.
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