Man, your sins are forgiven you

And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately the leprosy left him. And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded." However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

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. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk?' But 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." Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, 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 today!"

- Luke 5:12-26

In yesterday's reading, we were told about Jesus' first choosing of His disciples. In this case, He directed Simon (Peter), and James and John Zebedee as they were fishing. He taught them to cast a net into the depths at a certain place, and - after a night in which they fished and found no catch - they brought up an abundance of fish, so great that their nets were breaking and two boats began to sink. After this, Simon called Jesus "Lord" and declared himself to be a sinful man. Jesus replied, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men." We were told, So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." My study bible notes: "Leprosy was one of the most dreaded diseases of this time. It brought great physical suffering, and total banishment from society." It's important that we understand the stigma of this disease; an afflicted person was separated from the community in both a physical and spiritual sense.

Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately the leprosy left him. A note reads, "Jesus touched this man, both sick and an outcast. In the healing of this leper, the Lord also demonstrates there is no one in society who is left untouched by His gospel." It reminds me of yesterday's reading, in which Simon Peter confessed that he was a sinful man. It's not the sin that counts, but the faith that makes the connection with Jesus.

And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded." My study bible notes: "Jesus instructs the man to tell no one because He wants to avoid public misunderstanding of His messiahship. But He makes one exception, instructing the former leper to obey the Law and give testimony before the Jewish leaders. By tradition, the man needs an official certificate that he is cured before he can rejoin society." It's important to note that Jesus is following the religious laws and instructs the leper to do the same, with respect, "just as Moses commanded."

However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. A note here reads: "There are always more people to teach, to heal, to be freed from demons. But Jesus still takes time for prayer." It's good to know that Jesus needs the time for private prayer with the Father. It's as if this is where all the spiritual energy comes from - and of course, His direction. We, too, must do the same thing!

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. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." This is a wonderfully vivid story, as there are so many crowding into this place that the roof has to be dismantled so the paralytic can be lowered down in the midst of the crowd and healed by Jesus. Most often, we will be told in commentary that it is an illustration of how we can be brought to healing and health - brought to Christ and the kingdom - through the power of prayer and help by our friends. Even Jesus relies on his friends (the disciples chosen in yesterday's reading) to help spread his gospel message. When we ask others to share with us our hopes and desires for help through prayer, we are connected in love in a very special way. This kingdom works through connection with others, and so does the Holy Spirit in our world - through us.

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk?' But 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." Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, 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 today!" My study bible writes: "The powers to forgive sins and to heal belong to God alone. Jesus' exercise of these powers shows that He is the incarnate Son of God." In this scene, we have members of the leadership of the temple witnessing what is happening. They are the experts, the keepers and interpreters of Scripture and guardians of the law. As is so often the case in the Gospels, the healed man is changed in more ways than merely physical healing. He becomes a convert; he leaves glorifying God. Restoration through Christ's power is not just a return to health, but it is also a restoration to the kingdom, to belonging. All are amazed, and they say, "We have seen strange things today."

Let us remember, then, the power of prayer, and our union and connection with one another in the kingdom through this power. In both the case of the leper and of the paralytic, who walks home on his own while glorifying God, we understand restoration in its fullest concept. Restoration is not just about being restored to our place of health and wellness physically, mentally, or emotionally - but it is also a spiritual restoration. Restoration is to the kingdom, to a sense of belonging to the fullness of spiritual community. When we pray for our friends, we must remember this. When we pray for others whom we know or do not know, we must remember this. Restoration is about belonging to the fullness of a spiritual kingdom, whose rule and identity is in love. The network that forms these spiritual bonds between us is one that expands and grows. It covers our deepest depths and can take in the broadest spectrum of all of us, including (and perhaps in our Gospel messages, most especially) the outcasts among our societies. The power of prayer expands to include not only the unincluded and disenfranchised in our world and whatever social or other systems we may be talking about - but it also includes those parts of ourselves we may find distasteful or shameful to ourselves. In yesterday's reading, Simon Peter - the one who will speak for the apostles and among the first called to discipleship - confesses that he is a sinful man. In today's reading, Jesus reveals His power to forgive sins. Whatever we are willing to bring to this table is included. He wants us all, and all of what there is to ourselves. We don't need to be perfect. He will take us as we are, with faith. We have all the time in the world, and beyond, to learn where He asks us to change, to repent, to heal. We will be taught how to "Follow Him" and to serve, and what we need to leave behind along the way. All we have to do is to open the door, through faith, and bring ourselves into that place. The power of prayer can do this for us; it can bring us to that place where the additional grace of our power to cooperate with Spirit, with Christ, can work. Are you ready for that? Can you help your friends to get there with your prayer?