The Life of Christ

• Each of these three steps was difficult and risky in its own right:

• Before even attempting to reach the rooftop patio, common to most homes in that day, they first had to break through the crowd. Each member of the crowd had come much earlier to secure their “spot,” and certainly wouldn’t favor giving up such valuable tuff for another.

• Next they had to calculate where to create their opening in the roof. The only open space in the entire house was two feet in front of Jesus. Their measurements had to be precise.

• Disassembling the roof meant destroying personal property without permission. It meant removing ceiling tiles and digging out an opening, possibly tampering with the framework that supported the tiles.

• It’s doubtful that they even discussed which of the four would be willing to pay for the damages.

• Lowering him down through the roof also meant interrupting what was down below.

• These are the ingredients demonstrated by this act of true faith: perseverance, discomfort, calculations, and potential loss and embarrassment.

Lk. 5:20 And seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”

Before Jesus saw their faith, He first felt the dust and debris falling from the roof into His hair.

• He then saw their faith by observing this strange effort in motion directly above Him.

It was “their” faith that led to the miracle.

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• Our faith is often required to stand in for another’s need.

• In this case, it was the faith of four individuals that led to one’s man’s benefit.

“Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”

• Before Jesus healed the man, He first forgave his sins.

• The primary purpose of this particular miracle was to authenticate the connection between salvation of sins and the healing of the body.

• They both originate from the same source — the cross!

• This man’s sin would not be forgiven if it wasn’ t for Jesus ’ decision to later die on the cross for him.

• And it was that same death on the cross that made provision of his physical healing —“by His stripes we are healed.”

The cross equally made provision for both the salvation of our sins and the healing of our bodies! They are one in the same according to Isa. 53:5: But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed (Isa. 53:5).

• Forgiveness of sin and the healing of our bodies are equally made available to whoever by faith accepts Jesus as their Redeemer.

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