This is one of the miracles of our Lord Jesus Christ which captures our imagination. We can picture the scene! Jesus has come back home to Capernaum after His preaching tour around the nearby villages. News that He was back had quickly spread and in no time a crowd had gathered, filling the house and leaving no more room, not even outside the door – see verse 2. The ministry of Christ was being noticed; the people were hearing and seeing great things. Once again we are told that Jesus stayed true to His calling and preached the word to them – verse 2. Meanwhile four men carried their paralysed friend to Jesus, convinced that the Lord could help him. But they realised that they weren't going to get anywhere near Jesus, so they went up on to the roof and made an opening. The words here literally mean, 'they unroofed the roof'! Imagine the scene below – a hole appeared in the ceiling which grew larger and the man was lowered into the room! Seeing the man lying on his mat, and the four men peering down from above, Jesus looked at the paralytic and said, "Son, your sins are forgiven" (verse 5). The order of the words in the original is, "Forgiven are your sins", placing the emphasis on forgiving love. Jesus tenderly went right to the heart of the man's need.

1. They brought their friend to Jesus.

This is a tremendous reminder. The only hope for sinners is to be found in Jesus Christ. We're to follow their example and bring people to Him. These four men had faith, faith to believe that Christ alone could help. Notice the different groups of people who were brought to Jesus in the New Testament – the sick and demon-possessed (Matthew 4:24; 8:16); the blind (Luke 18:40); the seekers (John 1:41,42; 12:20-22); the doubters (John 1:45,46); the sinful (John 8:3); the sorrowing (John 11:28); and lastly, those whom the disciples couldn't help (Mark 9:17-20). Our great privilege in these critical days is to bring people to the Lord Jesus Christ. Look up Matthew 11:28-30.

2. Their friend had a great need.

Perhaps we should say that he had great needs! Jesus recognised them immediately. He saw first of all the man's heart: he was a sinner and needed cleansing and forgiveness. Secondly he saw the man's physical condition. It was obvious to everyone – he was paralysed, helpless and bedridden. These two things do not necessarily go together! Some would jump on a band-wagon and say that every malady must be the result of some misdemeanour. The Jews took a strong line on this and that explains why they were so puzzled over the man born blind (John 9:1-3). In the general sense there is sickness, disease, evil and death in the world because of sin. Adam fell and paradise was lost. But in the particular sense, to label every illness the result of a specific sin can be an extremely hurtful exercise. The truth is that this man was a sinner like you and me. Sin is both breaking God's law and falling short of God's glory. In Psalm 31:1-2 we have the words 'transgressions' ('lawlessness') and 'sins' ('failures'), for sin is both the stepping over a known boundary and the falling short of a human standard. Look up Romans 3:23.

3. Jesus forgave him completely.

While Jesus was preaching and sharing the good news, this man almost landed in his lap! And with compassion and tenderness Jesus looked at him and said, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Man's greatest need today is to know forgiveness, cleansing and the removal of guilt. A Dutch poet has called man's guilt "the root of all human problems". A British psychologist has called man's sense of having been forgiven "the most healing force in the world". There is deep forgiveness with our Lord Jesus Christ, however far we may have fallen. Jesus realised the man's sin, and saw "their faith" (verse 5). These words need not exclude the faith of the paralysed man. Surely all five of them were exercising great faith in this logistical exercise! The man must have had faith to believe that Jesus could heal him and forgive him. Where in all the Scriptures is the remission of sins given without faith? The man believed by faith in Jesus and received the Saviour's forgiveness. And when Jesus spoke the words, not only was the paralytic forgiven, but his debt was cancelled. Christ blots out our sins completely and for ever. Look up Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 1:18; 55:6,7; Jeremiah 31:34; Micah 7:9; 1 John 1:9.

4. The teachers of the law were finding fault.

Here they are in verses 6 and 7, sitting among the crowd, not voicing their opposition, but thinking it in their minds. Immediately we read in verse 8 that Jesus knew their thoughts. Whilst the ministry of Jesus was attracting great attention, the opposition was increasing. That's always the case. Satan opposes the work of God. Compare with 2:16,24; 3:6,22. Of course, the teachers of the law were right to think, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" But they failed to recognise who Jesus was, the promised Messiah, the divine Son of God. He had the authority to forgive sin, and would go to Calvary to pay its high price. Jesus read their thoughts as much as He reads ours. Compare with John 2:25.

5. Jesus proved His authority.

Notice here how Jesus questions these men in verses 8-10, and sharply reprimands them. Christ saw the paralytic's sinful heart as much as He read His opponent's thoughts. He forgave the man but that work was hidden from human eyes. How could they test the validity of this forgiveness? Jesus therefore gives the proof for all to see –"But that you may know…" (verse 10) could be rendered, "But that you may see…" He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home" (verse 11). The man did it in full view of all the people. Christ displays His authority to forgive sins, which is that inward working, by healing the man for all to see. Both were acts of great love and power. He can forgive you if you will repent of your sin and turn to Him in faith. Read Romans 4:7 and 8 and rejoice in the power and scope of His forgiveness.