Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?

 

 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.  Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.  And He preached the word to them.  Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.  And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.  So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."  And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."   Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

 

- Mark 2:1–12 

 

Yesterday we read that, as soon as they had come out of the synagogue (where Jesus cast out an unclean spirit), they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.  So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her.  And she served them.  At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.  And the whole city was gathered together at the door.   Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.  Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.  And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.  When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."  But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."  And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.  Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."  As soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.  And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once,  and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

 

 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.  Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.  And He preached the word to them.  Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.  And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.  So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."  And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."   Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"  My study Bible asks us to note here that one purpose of the coming of Christ into the world as the incarnate Jesus is to forgiven sins.  This is to free humanity from its bondage.  To forgive sins, it says, is a greater power than physical healing.  As the scribes correctly note, God alone can forgive sins.  So, therefore, the easier task is to grant physical healing.  Although Christ is fully God and holds the authority to forgive, He condescends to those who are gathered in the crowded house in Capernaum (St. Peter's family home, His ministry headquarters) in order to draw people to God, whom they glorified.  

 

 Jesus asks the scribes, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."   Although we're told that all were amazed and glorified God following this miraculous sign, we really don't know if the scribes were convinced and came to believe that Christ (the Son of Man) truly had the power on earth to forgive sins.  Jesus offers a crossroads to the people who witness this healing of the paralytic, because it takes one more step from simply witnessing the miraculous healing to truly believing that He is God, and has the power to forgive sins.  That one more step is the step of faith.  As shown by this healing, faith is an indispensable condition for salvation; the text tells us that this forgiveness was extended when He saw their faith.  My study Bible comments on this note that faith is collective as well as personal, which we can see here as the faith of the paralytic's friends which helped in his healing.  Additionally, regarding the power to forgive sins, there are other signs of Christ's divinity on display in this story.  First, He knows the secrets of hearts (when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, the text tells us).  This is a quality that also touches upon the power to forgive sins as it is essential for the One who will judge.  See also 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Chronicles 6:30.  Moreover, He heals by the power of His word (as in the story of Creation, when God spoke the cosmos into existence; see Genesis 1:3).  All the people can see His miraculous healing.  But will all -- including the scribes -- believe that He has the power to forgive sins, and that as Son of Man He is fully human and fully divine?  Throughout the Church's history, we find that so many of the heresies ruled on by Ecumenical Council really had to do in some way or another with this question of the divinity and humanity of Christ.  For whatever reason, it is this paradox of our faith that seems to be the most difficult for many to accept, and this has been true throughout the history of Christianity.  But, nevertheless, this is our faith, and this is the claim Jesus makes in the healing of the paralytic.  It's perhaps extraordinary how Christ presents His claim to the power to forgive sins couched within the healing of the paralytic, for it cracks open the question of whether to believe or not to believe in His divinity.  The human Jesus they see before themselves; can they also believe that He has the power to forgive sins?  In this action, Jesus confronts everyone with an immediate choice.  And this is really our choice, for without faith there is no healing, either physically of the paralysis, or spiritually in the forgiveness of sin and salvation in reconciliation with God.  For the power of judgment and Resurrection is given to Christ, as He teaches in John 5:22-27.  The power to forgive and the authority to judge go hand in hand, and there is only One who can do both.

 

 

 

Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men

 

And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.  Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.  And He preached the word to them.  Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.  And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.  So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."  And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about those things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

 

- Mark 2:1–12 

 Yesterday we read that as soon as Jesus and the disciples had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.  So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her.  And she served them. At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.  And the whole city was gathered together at the door.  Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.  Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.  And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.  When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."  But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I  have come forth."  And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.  Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."  As soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.  And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.  

 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.  Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.  And He preached the word to them.  My study Bible notes for us that Christ preached wherever there were people -- in the synagogue, on the mountain, on the plain, and here in a house.  This vital part of His ministry He always made time for, and put first in His care of the people.

 

Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.  And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.  So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."  My study Bible comments that this passage shows us that faith is an indispensable condition for salvation.  It notes also that faith is collective as well as personal, for  the faith of the paralytic's friends helped in his healing.

 

 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  My study Bible notes that the scribes are correct, that only God can forgive sins.  Unwittingly, they thus confirm the divinity of Christ.

But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about those things in your hearts?"  In Scripture, my study Bible says, the heart usually refers to the center of consciousness, including the will and reason.

"Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"  My study Bible explains that the point of Christ's challenge ("Which is easier . . . ?) is not that either one is easier, but rather that One who could say, "Arise, take up your bed and walk" is also capable of forgiving sins.   Additionally, it's noted that there are three signs of Christ's divinity shown in today's passage.  First He knows the secrets of hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Chronicles 6:30).  Second, Christ forgive sins, which indeed is a power which belongs to God alone.  Finally, He heals by the power of His word (John 1:1).

Today's passage is read on the second Sunday of Lent in the Orthodox Church.  As such, my study Bible explains that it has a three-fold symbolism which relates to our preparation for Easter, and so, pertinent at this time.  First, we must come to Christ in faith, and let Him heal us of our spiritual paralysis.  Sin is thought of as a kind of paralysis of the soul.  That is, a place where we are "stuck," so to speak. Second, we should let nothing deter us from getting to Christ, for He alone can heal us in body and soul.  Finally, we need to help one another to come to Christ.  It's a powerful testimony to how we may find our way through the intervention of others, and especially by prayer.  Recently I saw a video of a woman named Tammy Peterson, who is the wife of the famous psychologist Jordan Peterson.  In it, she explained how prayer helped her through a diagnosis and treatment of a very rare and very deadly cancer.  See this video.  She was apparently greatly helped by a friend who prayed with her and brought a rosary to her, teaching her how to pray with it.  Tammy, who was not particularly religious, has found for herself a great source of faith and strength in the rosary, and has become Roman Catholic as were her great-grandparents.  I write this not to advocate for one particular Church or another, but to speak about the power of prayer, and how interconnected we are in prayer itself.  For when we open up communion with Our Father, with Christ, with the Holy Spirit, then we open up a vast interconnected web of communion that intersects everything, including our relationships with our own loved ones and community and the people around us.  There is no doubt that Tammy's "discovery" of prayer in her own life also affected the lives of her husband and family, for -- just like the paralytic in this crowded house in Capernaum that we read of today -- the interconnection of prayer as we root ourselves in communion with Christ also makes its connections, even though unseen by us, with all that is around us.  Jesus teaches Nicodemus in John's Gospel, "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8).  To be "born of the Spirit" can of course take many forms throughout our lives, and in constant fulfillment of our Baptism.  But so goes also the work of prayer, borne in the Holy Spirit, and carried where it will, even unseen by us and unplanned by us!  Let us think about the surprising power of prayer, for the Holy Spirit blows where it wishes, in ways we can't predict -- but we can nevertheless take confidence in prayer always working in us and among us in God's own way.  For this is what Lent is for, to deepen our prayer and to seek God more deeply in our hearts.

 

See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you

 

 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.  

 

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"  The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up but while I am coming, another steps down before me."  Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."  And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.  And that day was the Sabbath.  The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."  He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.'"  Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"  But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.  Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."  The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.  

 

For this reason, the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.  But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."  Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

 

- John 5:1–18 

 

Yesterday we read that after spending two days among the Samaritans (see readings from Thursday, Friday, and Saturday),  He departed from there and went to Galilee.  For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.  So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine.  And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.  When he hard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.  Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."  The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!"  Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives."  So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.  And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!"  Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better.  And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."  So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives."  And he himself believed, and his whole household.  This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.   

 

  After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.  This pool was a double-basin pool which was believed to have curative powers.  My study Bible says that this pool has been discovered about 100 yards north of the temple area, near the Sheep Gate.  It notes that the water for this high-ground pool came from underground springs, and it was used to wash down the sacrificial lambs before they were slain.  Moreover, my study Bible comments, this pool functions as a type of Christian baptism, reflecting meanings which transition from the old to the new covenant.  Under the old, a great multitude waited to enter the water for physical healing after an angel touched it.  These waters, it explains, were special because they were a way of indirectly participating in the animal sacrifices of the temple, as the animals were washed in the same water.  But the grace was limited in this case to only the first person to enter.  But under the new covenant, baptism is given to all nations, and it is a direct participation in the sacrificial death of Christ (Romans 6:3-6), without the mediation of angels.  Baptism, my study Bible comments, therefore grants healing of the soul and the promise of eternal resurrection of the body -- and moreover, its grace is inexhaustible.  We recall Christ's words to the Samaritan woman, from Thursday's reading, "But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

 

 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.  My study Bible cites St. John Chrysostom, who comments here that Jesus singled out the man who had waited for thirty-eight years so that we are taught to have perseverance.  Additionally it is a type of judgment against those who lose hope or patience in much lesser troubles lasting a far shorter time. 

When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"  The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up but while I am coming, another steps down before me."  My study Bible says that Christ's question is relevant for several reasons.  First, it made public the fact that the sick man kept his faith although in a situation that was seemingly hopeless. How could a paralytic ever be the first into the water?  Second, Christ draws attention away from the water, and toward the concept that we need a man to help us.  Of course, it is Christ who fulfills this need, as He became a Man in order to heal all people.  Finally, not all those who are ill actually desire healing.  This is linked to a psychological preference to remain infirm in order to be free to complain, to avoid responsibility for their lives, or to continue to stimulate pity in others.

And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.  And that day was the Sabbath.  The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."  He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.'"  Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"  We remember that in John's Gospel, the majority of the use of the term the Jews is used like a political term, to designate the leadership (Jesus and all the others in this story are also Jews, as well as John the author of the Gospel).  My study Bible comments here that although the Law itself doesn't specifically forbid the carrying of burdens on the Sabbath, it is prohibited in Jeremiah 17:21-22, and also explicitly forbidden in rabbinical teachings.  It notes that the understanding that Christ is Lord over the Sabbath becomes clear in His command to the man ("Rise, take up your bed and walk"), and then by the man's obedience to Him.  We may also observe the malice in these leaders, who focus only on the violation of the Sabbath, by asking, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed'?" and ignoring completely the healing of this man who'd suffered for such a long time.  

 

 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."   My study Bible notes that this healed man is found in the temple, emphasizing that it shows his great faith.  He had gone there directly to thank God for his cure rather than leaving for someone's home or the marketplace.  Jesus tells him, "Sin no more."  My study Bible comments on this that as there is a general connection between sin and suffering (Romans 6:23), this connection is, however, not always one-to-one.  Clearly, the innocent often suffer, and the guilty are often spared from earthly sufferings (see also John 9:1-3).  But nonetheless, sometimes our sins do lead directly to our own worldly suffering.  According to St. Chrysostom, such was the case with the paralytic.  Jesus' warning, however, is that the sins that destroy the soul lead to a far worse result than an affliction of the body, my study Bible notes.  Our only hope is fleeing from sin.

The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.  My study Bible explains that the man doesn't report Jesus to the religious leaders of the Jews in a malicious way, but rather he is witness to Christ's goodness.  Although these leaders were only interested in the violation of the Sabbath, this healed man emphasizes that it was Jesus who had made him well, and said nothing about carrying his bed.  

For this reason, the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.  But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."  Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.  My study Bible says that when Jesus declares God to be My Father, these religious leaders clearly understand that it implies absolute equality.  In the following reading, Jesus will continue to express this unity.

 

Jesus says to the healed former paralytic, "See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."  At first glance, it might appear that Jesus is Himself issuing a threat to this man, as some kind of punishment or retribution.  But with God, this is not the case.  It is similar to John's teaching to Nicodemus:  "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."  The explanation here is not that one is offered a punishment for refusal of Christ.  But it is communion with Christ that confers the healing and the grace and the redemption.  Therefore to run from this communion, to refuse it, or to participate in that which runs counter to it and is against it, is to reject the grace, healing, and redemption offered by Christ.  When we're talking about our faith, it is important to understand the impact and power of communion, of participation in the life of Christ.  Whatever it is that cuts us off from that communion works against the dividends of faith.  We have a great grace working for us, and we are given much mercy so long as we are capable of repentance, redemption, of seeking out God.  But our own refusal jeopardizes that capacity, and works to blind us to the ways God would have us go toward God and receive that light.  If we observe the effects of Christ's presence in the Gospels -- and particularly in the progression of events in John's Gospel -- we will notice that while those who are in some way healed or redeemed by Christ continue moving more deeply into faith and communion with Him, as the same story progresses the religious leaders who refuse Him and wish to condemn Him only draw further away, even as they draw themselves into more deeply blindly sinful and corrupt behavior in condemning One whom they know to be innocent.  When we are warned about the effects of sin, it's not for punishment but for our protection and good, like a parent warning a child about touching a hot stove.  The healing in today's reading constitutes the third sign of seven given in John's Gospel.  My study Bible claims that this sign exemplifies the divine power to restore a person to wholeness.  According to patristic sources, this feast which Jesus is attending is the Old Testament Pentecost (also called the "Feast of Weeks") which celebrated the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai.  Later references in this chapter to the Law of Moses affirm this interpretation.  So let us think about the "law" of participation and communion.  We are to understand that whatever breaks or harms this relationship also does harm to our capacity to receive God's grace and healing power.  In the thoughts of the Church, our very lives are dependent upon God; therefore to jeopardize our deeper or closer faith is to jeopardize the life in abundance we're promised, and all the things that might mean.  Let us pay attention to the law of God's love.

 

 

Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men

 

 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.  Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."  And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!"  But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?  For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  And he arose and departed to his house.  Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men. 

 

- Matthew 9:1–8 

 

Yesterday we read that when Jesus had come to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.  And suddenly, they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God?  Have You come here to torment us before the time?"  Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding.  So the demons begged Him, saying, "If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine."  And He said to them, "Go."  So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine.  And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.  Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.  And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus.  And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.   

 

  So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.  Jesus' own city, in this case, refers to Capernaum (Matthew 4:13).  It is His Galilean ministry headquarters.

 

  Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."  And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!"  But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?  For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  And he arose and departed to his house.  Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.  My study Bible says that, as shown by this healing of the paralytic, faith is an indispensable condition for salvation.  Faith is collective as well as personal, as illustrated by this story -- the faith of the paralytic's friends helped in his healing.  There are three signs of Christ's divinity shown here:  First, He knows the secrets of hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Chronicles 6:30); Second, He forgives sins, which is a power that belongs to God alone; and finally, He heals by the power of His word.  

 

If we compare the people in today's story with the people in yesterday's story, we see a great difference.   In yesterday's reading, rather than finding it important that the demon-possessed men had been healed, the townspeople simply requested that Jesus leave them, as they had lost their swine.  But here, when this man was restored, the multitudes marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.   This is a key to something about faith; that is, in the recognition of what is truly good, people seek to glorify God.  It is an expression of an openness to God.  Clearly the capacity for gratitude is also linked to this mindset, just as the inability to feel or know gratitude -- or to recognize good things -- is linked to a spiritual deafness or blindness.  So, if we look at these details of the story, those involving the multitudes who witness, we see also the link to the expression of faith in a collective, community sense.  It is not only that the friends of the paralytic facilitate his healing, but that all of those who witness glorify God as well.  Moreover, let us take a look at what exactly it is they glorify God for giving to human beings:    they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.  This is another spiritual lesson within the story, this ability to recognize what God has done -- and specifically this power given to human beings.  That is an elevation of humanity in and of itself, a lesson of the Incarnation.  To recognize this divine blessing, a glorification of humanity in a sense, and to in turn glorify God, is a kind of reciprocation that is God-like in and of itself.  The ancient Orthodox liturgical prayer of Dismissal (written by St. John Chrysostom), begins, "Lord, You bless those who bless You."   They bless God who has blessed them.   Let us note the vast difference between those with spiritual eyes and ears, and those without.  For blessings, even stupendous ones as in today's reading, must be recognized.  We might be surprised at how often they are not.

Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you

 

 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.  Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"  The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me."  Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."  And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.  And that day was the Sabbath.  The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."  He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.'"  Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"  But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.  Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."  The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.  

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.  But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."  Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 

 - John 5:1-18 

 

Yesterday we read that, after the two days He spent with the Samaritans, Jesus departed from there and went to Galilee.  For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.  So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.  So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine.  And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.  When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.  Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."  The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!"  Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives."  So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.  And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!"  Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better.  And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."  So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives."  And he himself believed, and his whole household.  This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.   

 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  The healing that takes place in today's reading is the third sign (of seven) in John's Gospel.  My study Bible says that it exemplifies the divine power to restore a person to wholeness.   Patristic tradition teaches that this feast is the Old Testament Pentecost (which is also called the "Feast of Weeks").  It celebrates the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai.  The references to the Law of Moses later in chapter five confirm this interpretation.  We note Jesus behavior that fulfills all righteousness; He faithfully attends east feast in John's report of His three year ministry.

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.   My study Bible tells us that this double-basin pool, believed to have curative powers, has been discovered about 100 yards north of the temple area, near the Sheep Gate.  The water for this high-ground pool came from underground springs and was used to wash down the sacrificial lambs before they were slain.  My study Bible further explains that this pool functions as a type of Christian baptism.  Under the old covenant, a great multitude waited to enter the water for physical healing after an angel touched it.  These waters were special in that they were a way of indirectly participating in the animal sacrifices of the temple, since the animals were washed in the same water.  But the grace was limited to the first person to enter.  Under the new covenant, however, baptism is given to all peoples as a direct participation in Christ own sacrificial death (Romans 6:3-6) without the mediation of angels.  Baptism, my study Bible concludes, thus grants healing of the soul and the promise of eternal resurrection of the body, and its grace is inexhaustible.  

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.   My study Bible cites St. John Chrysostom, who comments that Jesus singled out the man who had waited for thirty-eight years in order to teach us to have perseverance, and as a judgment against those who lose hope or patience in much lesser troubles lasting a far shorter time.  

When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"  The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me."  My study Bible says that the Lord's question (Do you want to be made well?) is relevant for several reasons.  First, it made public the fact that the sick man kept his faith even in a situation that was seemingly hopeless, for how could a paralytic ever be the first into the water?  Second, Christ draws attention away from the water and toward the need we have for a man to help us.  This is Christ Himself, who became a Man in order to heal all.  Finally, not everyone who is ill actually desires healing.  There are those who may prefer to remain infirm for various reasons:  to have license to complain, to avoid responsibility for their lives, or to continue to excite the pity of others.

Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."  And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.  And that day was the Sabbath.  The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."   He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.'"  Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"   The Law itself, my study Bible explains, did not specifically forbid the carrying of burdens on the Sabbath.  But this is prohibited in Jeremiah 17:21-22 and explicitly forbidden in rabbinical teachings.   It is made clear that Christ is Lord over the Sabbath by His command and also by the man's obedience (see also Matthew 12:1-8).  As is frequently the case in John's Gospel, we must clarify, the term Jews here refers to the hostile leaders and not to the people in general.   And the malice of these particular religious authorities is made clear in the Gospel, as their sole focus is on the Sabbath violation, asking the man, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed'?" while they ignore altogether his miraculous healing.

But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.  Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."  My study Bible comments that the fact that the man was found in the temple shows his great faith, as he had gone there directly to thank God for his cure rather than departing to someone's home or the marketplace.  Jesus tells the man to sin no more:  My study Bible comments that there is a general connection between sin and suffering (Romans 6:23), but that connection is not always one-to-one, for the innocent frequently suffer, and the guilty are often spared earthly suffering (see also John 9:1-3).  Nonetheless, it is true that at times our sins do lead directly to our own suffering in this world.  My study Bible cites St. John Chrysostom, who comments that this was the case with the paralytic.  Christ's warning here, according to my study Bible, is that the sins that destroy the soul lead to a far worse result than an affliction of the body.  Thus, the only hope is to flee from sin altogether.

 

 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.  My study Bible comments that the man does not report Jesus to the leaders of the Jews in a malicious way, but as a witness to Christ's goodness.  Even though these leaders were only interested in the violation of the Sabbath, this healed man emphasizes that it was Jesus who had made him well, and does not speak about carrying his bed.

 

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.  But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."  Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.  My study Bible comments that when Jesus declares God to be My Father, the Jews clearly understand this implies absolute equality. 

Jesus teaches this healed man, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."  My study Bible comments that while there is a general correlation between sin and suffering, there is by no means a sense that this is always the case, as often the innocent suffer and the guilty do not.  While St. Chrysostom comments that this connection existed for the paralytic, my study Bible nevertheless says that the sins that destroy the soul lead to a far worse result than his bodily affliction.  But I feel that there is yet another aspect to Jesus' teaching here we must also add, and that is the importance of gratitude.  It seems that if this man were to go out now and lead a profligate or evil life in which God and his faith did not play a key role to guide him forward, then this would be a kind of spiritual spurning of the great gift of healing he's been given.  At this time, he is in a high good state:  he is not only healed of his affliction, but his faith has set him on a good road.  He was found in the temple giving thanks, and moreover he has found Christ.  But to turn away from this and begin to lead a dissolute life would lead him to a state worse than the first, as the life of willful sin would now be a spurning of the great gift Christ has given, and the enlightened state possible for a person in his position.  Therefore to ignore God and the commands of God would be to turn his back on a much deeper awareness of the goodness of God than he had before.  He has kept his faith all this time through his illness; now that he is well he is in a new state of life, and it is therefore all the more important to be aware and persistent in his faith.  As we commented in yesterday's reading, it is often the case that when things go poorly for us, we seek out faith to help us.  But when things are going well, that is when we are tempted to forget about God and rely upon ourselves and our good fortune instead.   It seems to me that this is the great lesson in Jesus' teaching to this man to "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."   We often have a tendency to attribute good fortune to ourselves, and to rely on that good fortune as if it is something we personally own, a part of us.  In this case, the healed man clearly knows who healed him; nevertheless Christ finds it prudent to give him a warning about his future conduct.  Let us consider the power of gratitude, for whatever good thing we have, and how this very consciousness of gratitude keeps us in a good place, and stands us in good stead for our future.

Rise, take up your bed and walk

 

 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude a sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.  Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"  The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me."  Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."  And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.  And that day was the Sabbath.  The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."  He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.'"  Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"  But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.  Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."  The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.  But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."  Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

 

- John 5:1–18 

 

Yesterday we that after the two days with the Samaritans, Christ departed from there and went to Galilee.  For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.  So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.  So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine.  And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.  When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.  Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."  The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!"   Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives."  So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.  And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!"  Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better.  And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."  So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives."  And he himself believed, and his whole household.  This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.   

 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.   The feast to which Jesus goes in this chapter is traditionally understood to be the Old Testament Pentecost (which is also called the "Feast of Weeks).  It is a celebration of the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai.  The references to the Law of Moses later in this fifth chapter of John confirm this interpretation.  

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude a sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.   This was a double-basin pool, which was believed to have curative powers.   My study bible reports that it has been discovered about 100 yards north of the temple area, near the Sheep Gate.   The water for this high-ground pool was from underground springs.  It was used to wash down the sacrificial lambs before they were slain.  My study bible adds that the pool functions as a type of Christian baptism.  Under the Old covenant, a great multitude waited to enter the water for physical healing after an angel touched it.  These waters were special in that they offered a way to indirectly participate in the animal sacrifices of the temple, since the animals were washed in the same water.  But that is a limited grace, only for the first person to enter.    Under the new covenant, baptism is given to all nations as a direct participation in Christ's own sacrificial death (Romans 6:3-6), without the mediation of angels.  Baptism, therefore, grants healing of the soul and the promise of the eternal resurrection of the body, and its grace is inexhaustible.

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.  My study bible says that, according to St. John Chrysostom, Jesus singles out this particular man who had waited for thirty-eight years in order to teach us to have perseverance, and also as a judgment against those who lose hope or patience in much lesser troubles lasting a far shorter time.

When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"  The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me."  My study bible comments that Christ's question is relevant for several reasons.  First, it made public the fact that the sick man kept his faith even in a situation that was seemingly hopeless, for how could a paralytic ever be the first into the water?  Second, the Lord draws attention away from the water and toward the need we have for a man to help us.  This was fulfilled in Christ Himself, who became human in order to heal all.  Third, it says, not everybody who is ill actually desires to be healed.  Some sadly might prefer to remain infirm for various reasons, such as in order to have license to complain, to avoid responsibility for their lives, or to continue to attract the pity of others.

Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."  And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.  And that day was the Sabbath.  The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."  He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.'"  Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"  But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.  The Law itself doesn't specifically forbid the carrying of burdens on the Sabbath, but it is prohibited in Jeremiah 17:21-22, and also in rabbinical teachings.  My study bible explains that it is made clear that Christ is Lord over the Sabbath by His command to "Rise, take up your bed and walk," and also by the man's obedience (see also Matthew 12:1-8).  As we have noted before in John's Gospel, we must keep in mind that the term Jews often is used as a political label, and refers to the leaders (as in these verses) and not to the people in general.  My study bible suggests that we notice the malice of these leaders, for their focus is solely on the violation of the Sabbath, asking the man specifically "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed'?" but altogether ignoring his miraculous healing, and after so many long years of infirmity. 

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."   My study bible comments on the fact that this healed man was found in the temple, and that it shows his great faith -- for he had gone there directly to thank God for his cure rather than leaving for someone's home or to the marketplace.  Jesus tells him to sin no more:  although there is a connection between sin and suffering (Romans 6:23), my study bible says that this connection isn't always one-to-one, for the innocent frequently suffer, and the guilty are also often spared earthly sufferings (see also John 9:1-3).  But nevertheless, there are times when our own sins lead to our own suffering in this world.  St. John Chrysostom indicates that this was the case with this paralytic.  But Christ's warning is that the sins that destroy the soul lead to a far worse result than an affliction of the body.  The only hope is to flee from sin altogether.  

The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.   My study bible indicates that this man doesn't report Jesus to the leaders of the Jews in a malicious way, but rather as a witness to the goodness of God.  Even though these leaders were only interested in the violation of the Sabbath, the healed man emphasizes that it was Jesus who had made him well, and saying nothing about carrying his bed.  

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.  But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."  Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.   That Jesus declares God to be His Father is a clear implication of absolute equality, which the religious leaders recognize.  

Let us think about this man who was healed by the side of the pool at the Sheep Gate.  Can we imagine waiting someplace for thirty-eight years in the small hope of being healed by the water?  That is, in the small hope of being healed at that sometime point when the waters are stirred, and also needing someone to help us get to the pool when we are unable to walk, and so there are always people in front of us?  Imagine needing to be first into that pool, at that specific time, and with an infirmity that makes us unable to walk on our own.  You have then a picture of what my study bible calls the faint hope of healing under the Old Covenant, as compared to the New, which is offered for all.  What does it mean to us, as modern people in our own time and place, that Christ becomes that Person who is there to help this man to become whole?  He doesn't help him into the water, but He heals with a word, with a command for this man to "Rise, take up your bed and walk."  One might wonder that possibly at the mere command of Christ the impossible becomes possible:  at the call or command of the Creator all creation responds.  But this healing is permanent, not temporary.  But we must note what happens later on in the temple, when Jesus tells this believing man, who is grateful to God, that he must not sin:  "See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."   To my mind, this tells us a great deal not simply about faith, but also about the very "way we walk" in our own lives.  In order to retain the healing Christ gives to us, the forward movements in our lives, we need to be in a certain place, spiritually speaking.  We need to occupy a place in which we earnestly seek to remain aware of that love of God always pulling us into a particular place of faith, a prayerful connection to God.  What Jesus is essentially telling this man is that he must remain mindful of who he is, how God healed him, and also of the place into which Jesus has pulled him, in a communion of faith with Christ.  Jesus is saying to him that he must remain aware of his connection to God in order to continue to walk in a healed way.  To allow sin to come back into his life will be somehow dangerous; it will be to open back up to the forces that made him infirm and which debilitate our lives and distract us from God.  It will be sliding backward from the road upon which Christ has put him by having compassion on him and healing him.  It is to take God for granted, and to forget that although we are healed by grace, there is also our own part to play in our healing.  It seems to be a great metaphor in the story for our own lives, that no matter where we have come on our journey of faith, there is no such thing as backsliding for us as believers, that God will always call us forward.  Christ does not just give us one command, but asks to walk with us continually.  Our attention and our prayer is necessary.  Our communion with God might be the most important thing that keeps us on a road to physical, mental, psychological, and spiritual health.  Our communion with God always calls us deeply into participation in something that demands our attention, asks us to make room for God, and to try to keep out whatever it is that would pull us off course.  Grace is not a cheap gift:  it is a living and true reality in which we participate.  Lent is simply the time for us to pay attention to that gift and to delve more deeply into it.  It's for this reason that we practice fasting at this time, and we increase our prayer.  We set aside time to dive into our faith, to plunge within more deeply into relationship to renew our communion with God, and to live again with Christ the story of His Passion, death, and Resurrection.  What ails you?  What are you going through?  Or what are you healed from that you don't want to come back?  How is God calling you?  Set aside time for God, and let whatever needs to be played out in your own life take shape by participation in His life, as we look toward the Resurrection.  

We have seen strange things today!

 

 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 by 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" -- 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 

 

Yesterday we read that, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, Jesus stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.  Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land.  And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.  When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."  But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."  And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.  So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.  And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.  And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid.  From now on you will catch men."  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."  Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately the leprosy left him.  My study bible comments here that leprosy was one of the most dreaded diseases of Christ's time.  It brought great physical suffering, as well as complete banishment and isolation from society, and exclusion from community.  Leprosy is also a symbol of our sin.

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."   Christ commands the healed leper in accordance with the requirements of the Law (see Leviticus 14).  My study bible cites St. Cyril of Alexandria as saying that Christ does so in order to convince the priests by a tangible miracle that He is superior to Moses.  The priests hold Moses to be greater than Christ, my study bible says, yet Christ heals a leper immediately and with His own divine authority.  However, when Miriam was struck with leprosy, Moses had to seek mercy from above, and still she was only healed after seven days (Numbers 12:10-15).  

However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.  So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.   We should take heed of the Gospel reports that punctuate the stories of Christ and His ministry, indicating that Christ often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.  If even Christ needed to do this, imagine our own need to take time to withdraw from busyness for prayer in our lives!

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.  This is the first mention in Luke's Gospel of Pharisees and teachers of the law; also let us note that they are not only from every town in Galilee, but also Judea, and Jerusalem.   They have heard of Jesus and are taking note of Him and His activities for themselves.  It is interesting that the power of the Lord is noted by Luke as a presence; so far in Luke's Gospel, we have witnessed people marveling at Jesus' power and authority.

 

 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" -- 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 comments here that the healing of the paralytic shows us that faith is an indispensable condition for salvation.  It also comments that faith is collective as well as personal, for the faith of the paralytic's friends helped in his healing.  Moreover, it adds that there are three signs of the divinity of Christ which are shown here.  First, Christ knows the secrets of hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7, 2 Chronicles 6:30).  Second, Christ forgives sins, which is a power that belongs only to God.  Finally, He heals by the power of His word.

The story of the healing of the paralytic is quite marvelous in its wide cast of characters, and their full involvement in the healing.  It's not just a straightforward miracle of healing, but goes in roundabout ways to involve virtually everyone present.  Perhaps this is another, less obvious reason why we're told that the power of the Lord was present to heal them.  We are meant to understand how the power of Lord does not simply involve antagonist and protagonist, an active Healer and an ailment, but the power of the Lord works through everybody in this scenario -- even those who oppose Jesus in their hearts.  Let us observe that there is more than one obstacle (the group of Pharisees and scribes) to this healing.  First of all, because the man is a paralytic, he cannot walk into the house on his own and ask for help from Christ.  He must depend upon his friends who bring him on a bed.  But the next obstacle is the crowd of people present; they cannot figure out a conventional way to come inside the house and bring their friend in on his bed.  They must think collectively, and remove the tiles from the roof to lower the man down into the midst of the people who are there.  So, so far we have many characters involved in the story:  the man, his friends, and the crowd of people present to see Jesus.  All are playing a role, and the power of the Lord will work through all of these varied factors and characters in the story.  It is the faith of the man's friends that first creates the action of healing by Christ, for the text tells us that when He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."   They have made every effort to get their friend before Christ.  And then the scribes and Pharisees begin to grumble that this is blasphemy, for no one can forgive sins but God alone.  Jesus, being Himself divine, perceives what is in their hearts and He responds to it.  He says, "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" -- He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  And a tremendous healing miracle occurs as a display of the power of the Lord in response to the disagreement and label of blasphemy from these men of the religious establishment.  In effect, the power of the Lord which is present has worked through all elements of this scene, including the denial and lack of faith of the Pharisees and scribes.  This is an important thing to observe about the power of God:  it works through all things.  Even what is nominally "against God" (and in this case, against faith in Christ) can be used by God for good, for God's purposes.  This is perhaps most emphatically true in the symbol of the Cross, but it is a very important thing for us to remember as faithful.  Whatever we see happening in the world, whether it is nominally against our faith or for it in our sight, we should remember that God's power can work through it all, and that God's power works with our faith.  This is our part:  that we work the works of God by exercising our faith and doing what we can to build it (John 6:28-29).  St. Paul writes, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).  In today's reading is the first glimmering of opposition from the religious establishment to Christ, and yet we see the outcome:  the power of the Lord works through and with their opposition and scorn.  That God's power works through so many people and elements of this story is an important lesson for us, for in our own hearts and minds we should minimize the ways in which God may work through any situation or collection of people in our own lives, or in the world.  Most importantly, perhaps, this paralyzed man could not do for himself what the group of faithful friends could initiate and help achieve.  Therefore we must remember our collective faith, our participation in our faith through prayer and liturgy, even by simply reading the Gospel to shore up our faith.  Let us take confidence when we see dismaying news or setbacks, and return again, as does Christ in today's reading, to our prayer -- and do all that we can to shore up faith.  This is the place where the power of God can work through us, and even through all things we might see and hear.  The people say, "We have seen strange things today!"   Our God is the Lord of the unexpected and the unlikely, for with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

Do you want to be made well?

 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.  Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"  The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me."  Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."  And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.  And that day was the Sabbath.

The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."  He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.'"  Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"  But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.  Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."  The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus had had made him well.

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.  But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."  Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

- John 5:1-18

Yesterday we read that after remaining two days with the Samaritans (see the readings from Saturday and Monday), He departed from there and went to Galilee.  For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.  So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.  So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine.  And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.  When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.  Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."  The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!"  Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives."  So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.  And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!"  Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better.  And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."  So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives."  And he himself believed, and his whole household.  This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  We understand this feast to be the Old Testament Pentecost (which is also called the Feast of Weeks), celebrating the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai.  The references to the Law of Moses in this chapter are seen by tradition to affirm this interpretation.

In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.  This was a double-basin pool, which has been discovered about 100 yards north of the temple area, near the Sheep Gate.  The water for this pool on high ground came from underground springs; it was used to wash down the sacrificial lambs before they were slain.  My study bible notes that this pool functions as a "type" of Christian baptism.  Under the old covenant, it says, a great multitude waited to enter the water for physical healing after an angel touched it.  These waters were a way of indirectly participating in the animal sacrifices, since the animals were washed in the same water.  But grace here is limited to the first person to enter.  Under the new covenant, baptism is given is given to all nations as direct participation in Christ's own sacrificial death (Romans 6:3-6), without the mediation of angels.  Therefore baptism grants healing of the soul and the promise of eternal resurrection of the body.  Its grace is inexhaustible.  Moreover, the stirring of the water by the angel is also a sign regarding the Feast of Weeks, as it is understood that Moses was given the Law through mediation by angels; whereas the Incarnation gave humanity direct contact and revelation by the Son.  As we read in the Prologue to this Gospel, "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (1:17).

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. My study bible cites the commentary of St. John Chrysostom, who says that Jesus singled out this man who had waited for thirty-eight years in order to teach us to have perseverance.  Also, it functions as a kind of judgment against those who lose hope or patience in much lesser troubles lasting a far shorter time.  Let us understand that for this period, thirty-eight years could well constitute a lifetime.

When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"  The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me."  Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."  And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.  And that day was the Sabbath.  My study bible lists several reasons for the relevance of Christ's question to the paralyzed man.  First, it made public the fact that this sick man kept his faith even in circumstances that were seemingly hopeless.  How could a paralytic be the first into the water?  Second, Christ draws attention away from the water, and toward the need we have for a man to help us.  This man is fulfilled in Christ Himself, who became human to heal all people.  Also, Christ asking this question illustrates that not all ill people truly want healing.  Some prefer to remain infirm for all kinds of reasons; such as, for example, the enjoyment of complaining, avoiding responsibility, or obtaining the pity of others.  This is true of spiritual healing as well; those who truly desire the grace Christ offers will also be called to the struggle of bearing of one's own cross in a particular way.

The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."  He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.'"  Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"  But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.  My study bible says that the Law itself does not specifically forbid the carrying of burdens on the Sabbath.  But it is prohibited in Jeremiah 17:21-22, and explicitly forbidden in rabbinical teachings.  Here again is an illustration of the difference between the Law and the fullness of the Incarnation.  That Christ is Lord over the Sabbath is expressed by His command ("Take up your bed and walk") and by the man's obedience.  Once again, it must be noted that the term the Jews in John's Gospel is used like a political term, to denote the leadership and not to the people in general (all the people in this story are Jews).  What is most noteworthy is the malice of the leaders.  They focus only on the violation of the Sabbath, asking "Who is the Man who said to you, Take up your bed'?" and ignoring the good news of the man's healing altogether.

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."  My study bible notes that the fact that this man was found in the temple shows his great faith.  He had gone there directly in order to thank God for his cure, rather than leaving for someone's home or the marketplace to reveal to all his good news.  Jesus tells him to sin no more.  My study bible explains that while there is a general connection between sin and suffering (Romans 6:23), the connection isn't always direct or one-to-one.  The innocent often suffer in our world, and the guilty are frequently spared worldly sufferings (see also 9:1-3).  However, there are times when our own sins lead directly to our suffering in this world.   St. Chrysostom comments that this was the case with this paralytic.  But my study bible indicates that Christ's warning here is that the sins that destroy the soul lead to a worse result than afflictions of the body.  The real hope is to flee from sin altogether.  There is an additional perspective on Christ's warning; and that would be that to sin in forgetfulness of God's mercy to him would be a spiritual rejection of his healing, a spurning of the gift given by God.

The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus had had made him well.  This man does not maliciously report Jesus to the leadership, but rather he is witnessing to the goodness of Christ.  Even though the leaders are only interested in the violation of the Sabbath, the healed man emphasizes that it was Jesus who had made him well, and says nothing about the command to carry his bed.

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.  But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."  Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.  In tomorrow's reading, the dialogue will continue with the leadership, as Jesus continues to express the unity between Himself and the Father.  This statement of equality with God, whom Jesus calls My Father,  is an outrage to the religious leadership.

The place where our healing comes from is truly the reconciliation of all things; that is in the Reconciler, Christ Himself.  In today's reading are elements of the Law and the giving of the Law.  The angel that stirs up the waters is a reminder of how the Law comes to be given to the Jews, as preparation for the fullness of the revelation of Christ, God and man.  In the Incarnation itself is the reconciliation of God and man.  St. Gregory Nazianzinus has written, "What has not been assumed has not been healed," referring to the Incarnation; that is, to the complete assumption in Christ of the full nature of human beings, in every dimension.  Therefore, in the Incarnation itself, we see the healing of human beings.  This paralyzed man, seemingly simply waiting for Christ, has been hoping for his chance of divine healing for thirty-eight years, a full lifetime for his place and time.  As preparation for the Christ, the Law was given.  This is the way the Church views the old covenant.  Moreover, as Scripture tells us that there are angels given to every nation, we can also in the same sense view whatever good, true, and beautiful teaching from every culture as a preparation for the fullness of the healing that is offered in Christ.  We await, the world awaits, as did this man for thirty-eight years, the appearance of the fullness of the manifestation of Christ -- not simply God, but God and human, God Incarnate.  That is, God who has become one of us in order to fully heal us and teach us what a unified life looks like.  He comes to give us grace and truth, and of all its fullness, an overflowing of grace for grace.  And at the same time He warns us, "See, you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."  He teaches us not to take this grace for granted, and to ignore it at our own peril.  What has come near to us, this Kingdom in the Person of Jesus Christ, is not something to be taken lightly.  It is not an offer we'd be well off to spurn.  Moreover, the world may challenge us for our own healing.  Walking the pathway of Christ is not going to be easy or simple.  It is meant to be a struggle and a challenge, for we enter into His struggle and challenge He chose for us when He was born as human being, and walking in His ministry toward the Cross.  Perhaps it is partly for this reason that Jesus asks, "Do you want to be made well?"  When we are well, we may see things more clearly -- including the things in our lives that challenge that wellness, that may reach up in envy to snatch it away, belittle it, ridicule it, or tear it down because it challenges others also to choose wellness for themselves.  We may consider that in some sense we live in a sick world.  A sick world is one that can be healed, capable of living and supporting healthy life, and made for the good, for the peace and joy that Christ brings (14:27; 15:11).  To ask this question, however, asks us to step into a place where we carry our own cross, and take up the responsibility for being healed and made whole.  We will view things in a different way than those who do not seek nor cherish Christ's peace and joy within themselves, from those in whom irresponsibility results in tearing down what they cannot and do not wish to understand.  If all of this seems bleak, let us consider what life is like without Christ's mercy, without grace and truth.   In Mark's Gospel, Jesus responds to all of this Himself.  Pertinent to today's reading, He reminds us again of the mission of the angels, when He tells us, "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:35-38).  All the witnesses of Scripture testify to the worthiness of the gift, and the struggle to cherish and uphold it by our lives and how we choose to live by His light.