Four Faithful Friends- Luke 5:17-26

On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the man who was paralyzed--"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home." And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen extraordinary things today."

First things first....wouldn't you have given anything to be there that day? But think about all the people you could have been...a listener, a disciple, a Pharisee, a paralytic...or someone's friend who just happened to have great faith.

WHAT WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DO FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND?

We see an interesting phrase: "And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick" (5:17b). Does this mean that the power of God was NOT always with him to heal? No, not at all.

It's just another in a series of mentions Luke makes of the POWER of the Holy Spirit that is upon Jesus for ministry:

• "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan...." (4:1)
• "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit...." (4:14)
• "The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to...." (4:18)
• "With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out" (4:36)
• "The people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all." (6:19)
• "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." (8:46)
• "He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases...." (9:1)

But, when Jesus saw their faith...the whole situation begin to change.

FAITH -- someone's faith -- is one important ingredient in healing. Lack of faith in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth resulted in few healings (Matthew 13:58; Mark 6:5-6).

"Friend, your sins are forgiven' " (5:20).

Jesus knows that if he forgives the paralytic his sins, it would cause a great stir. I can't escape the impression that Jesus deliberately provokes the scribes and Pharisees. Now he increases their discomfort with a choice: "Which is easier? To say:

"Your sins are forgiven" OR "Get up and walk".

Then he tells the man to get up, healing him. The clear take away lesson is that Jesus has the authority to forgive sins AND heal the sick. Anyone can say, "Your sins are forgiven." Those are easy words to say, and who can tell whether or not the sins really HAVE been forgiven. But Jesus both pronounces forgiveness and then heals. GOD WORKS ON US FROM THE INSIDE OUT!

Today, some of us need to come and be forgiven and receive a blessing of healing as well.
WHAT IS PARALYZING YOU FROM RECEIVING FROM JESUS?

One of the biggest things paralyzing the church today is FEAR: The Bible speaks to this…

"Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for FEAR that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (John 3:20-21)

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to FEAR, but you received the Spirit of sonship." (Romans 8:15)

"For God did not give us a spirit of FEAR, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7 )

What's the OBSTACLE in your life that is preventing you from experiencing the POWER of Jesus in your life? Here’s some examples that most of us struggle with:
·A habit …
·a secret sin …
·a person you don't like
·a person in church you don't like or talk to...
your love for the world or the things of the world?

We must lose our fear...go deeper into our faith, and be open & willing to receive a word or work that God wants to do in our life.

What lessons are intended for us disciples to grasp from this day's events?
1. The importance of persistent, unstoppable faith in receiving from Jesus.
2. Jesus' authority on earth of forgive sins.
3. Jesus' authority to heal the paralyzed.
4. Fearlessness before the religious authorities.
5. A willingness to stretch people's understanding, even at the risk of offense.

Questions to Discuss :
1. What quality did Jesus see in the paralytic man who was lowered from the roof?What were his first words to him? (v. 20) Is forgiveness a kind of healing?

2. Why do you think Jesus spoke the extremely controversial words, "Your sins are forgiven." He could have been less offensive to the visiting guests. Why did he choose not to be?

3. What is the connection between sin and sickness in this passage?

4. Which of the two phrases IS easier to say? "Your sins are forgiven!" OR "Get up, take your mat, and go home!"? What point did Jesus want us to draw from this incident?

5. Why did Jesus use the term "Son of Man" rather than "Son of God" or "Messiah"?

6. Whom do you feel most like at present? The paralyzed man or one of the four friends? Why?

7. From whom do we need forgiveness? To whom should we give forgiveness?