Visitors damage someone’s roof in the middle of a crowded gathering. And instead of stopping them, Jesus calls it faith.
Imagine being there: You’re listening to this new, popular teacher. As He speaks, you start hearing a scraping noise from above. The noise is followed by dirt and fragments of branches falling on your head, and then a guy on a mat is lowered through a newly fashioned skylight, right in front of Jesus.
Is Jesus okay with property damage?
But Jesus doesn’t criticize them. Instead, He uses their actions to make the boldest statement of His ministry so far. This response begs a few questions, like is Jesus okay with property damage? And what did Jesus say that changed everything they knew about Him?
This story carries a message we all need to hear: Jesus can meet our deepest needs, and faithful friends can point us to Him when we need support.
Where Is the Story of Jesus Healing a Paralyzed Man in the Bible?
The story of Jesus forgiving and healing a paralyzed man is found in Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, and Luke 5:17-26.
Story Summary of Jesus Healing a Paralyzed Man
- Jesus is teaching in Capernaum at a house that’s packed to the brim.
- Some people try to bring a paralyzed friend to Jesus for healing, but they can’t get to Him because of the crowd.
- The friends dig a hole in the roof of the house and lower the paralyzed man down in front of Jesus.
- Jesus sees the faith of the friends and tells the paralyzed man that his sins are forgiven.
- The Pharisees who are present start asking themselves why Jesus has the audacity to think He can forgive sins.
- Jesus calls out what the Pharisees are thinking and then proves His authority by healing the paralyzed man.
The Main Point of Jesus Healing a Paralyzed Man
The story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man shows that Jesus has the authority and compassion to meet our deepest spiritual needs as well as our daily physical needs.
This story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man is the first time in each of the accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke that Jesus explicitly forgives sin. If you were reading the gospels for the first time, this story would introduce you to Jesus as more than simply an extraordinary man. Jesus is God in human form.
But this isn’t just a story about Jesus and a healed man. It’s also about how a group of friends boldly support each other.
3 Lessons From Jesus Healing a Paralyzed Man
So, what does the story of Jesus healing this paralyzed man teach us?
1. Following Jesus isn’t meant to be a solo adventure.
God created us for community. Imagine how differently the paralyzed man’s life would have played out without his friends. We get no hint that he asked his friends to take him to Jesus. They just did it.
We see God’s design for community in the Book of Genesis. From the very beginning of the Bible, when God created everything, He called it good. But there was one thing God said wasn’t good: for man to be alone. God created us to be in relationship with Him and with one another.
2. When we’re weak, good friends can point us to Jesus.
The paralyzed man was dealing with something in his life that he couldn’t take care of by himself. He was unable to walk. And in his day, he would have had limited options for making a living. But his friends had heard about Jesus.
So when the paralyzed man was unable to get himself to Jesus, his friends carried him. When he was weak and vulnerable, his friends brought him to the One who could strengthen and restore him.
We all need friends like this. Friends who will carry our burdens and lead us to Jesus when we’re too weak to get there on our own.
If you want to find friends like that, a great place to start is in your church community.
👉Find friends in an in-person or online small group.
3. If your friend is weak, God can use your faith to strengthen them.
Sometimes we feel like the paralyzed man, but other times we’re in the place of his friends. Our faith is strong, but the people close to us are hurting. In these moments, God can use our faith to strengthen those around us.
Are we paying enough attention to the people around us to see when they’re in pain?
Jesus didn’t forgive the man in response to the man’s faith. He saw the faith of his friends and then told the paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven. The question is, are we paying enough attention to the people around us to see when they’re in pain?
A great place to start is in your church community. For anyone who’s a follower of Jesus, it’s important to have friends who share our beliefs and encourage us to grow closer to Jesus.
Common Questions About Jesus Healing the Paralyzed Man
How did the man become paralyzed?
We don’t know. The Bible often leaves out details that are not essential to the point of the story. Sometimes we have to learn to be okay with just not knowing.
How did Jesus know what the Pharisees were thinking?
Scripture tells us that “Jesus grew in wisdom” from a very young age (Luke 2:52 NIV). He asked lots of questions at the temple even as a child, and everyone was amazed at his understanding. He knew the tendencies of the Pharisees from experience. He interacted with many kinds of people and had observed how people thought and acted.
Even beyond all that, Jesus is God. Yes, He let Himself be temporarily limited by being born as a human being who could get tired and hungry as He walked the Earth, but before that, He already existed eternally along with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Either way, He definitely had the Pharisees figured out.
Why doesn’t the Gospel of Matthew include the man’s friends?
It does. It says, “Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith …” (Matthew 9:2 NIV). It just doesn’t mention how the friends got the man to Jesus—through the roof. Matthew cares more about the faith and love demonstrated and the power of Jesus to forgive and heal than the other details. This story is the first time in all three synoptic gospels that Jesus claims He can forgive sins. Because that’s the big reveal, that’s what Matthew focuses on.
Reflect or Discuss
- What part of this story stands out the most to you and why?
- What can get in the way of opening your life up to other people?
- What steps can you take this week to engage in Jesus-centered community?