Friday 19 January 2024

Background

Given the amount of time I seem to spend worrying about church roofs, I would expect them to come higher in Jesus’ list of priorities! Jesus does not mention roofs, but today the gospel reading contains an apparent act of vandalism on a roof, by a group of friends desperate to get a paralysed man to Jesus.

Many of the stories in Luke are also found in Mark’s Gospel. In Mark' account, men dug a hole in the reinforced clay roof of a poorer home, to lower their friend through. In Luke's Gospel, they removed some tiles from a Hellenistic (Greek style) home. Whatever the details, the reason for the actions are what matters. By bringing the man to centre stage and laying him before Jesus, they provided the opportunity for Jesus to heal him.

For the first time in this gospel, the Pharisees and teachers of the law are introduced as onlookers. Pharisees were one of the most highly respected groups in Jewish society, and were religious leaders. The teachers of the law, also known as scribes or lawyers, had an important role in society too. When Jesus pronounced forgiveness of sins, they were scandalised! It was understood that God alone could make this declaration of forgiveness and would do so at the last day. Jesus proved his authority to do so when he responded: "Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you', or to say 'stand up and walk""?( v.23). He then told the paralysed man to stand up, take his bed and go home. The evidence of the healing proved that Jesus had authority to pronounce forgiveness and to heal.

The title ‘Son of Man’ used for Jesus here is probably used as a title of dignity. Its authority goes back to its use in Daniel 7:13-14 but it is used in the New Testament in a variety of ways.

The NRSV Bible translation says that the people were ‘filled with awe’ (v. 26); however, the Greek word literally means ‘fear’, a common response to the presence of God or God’s works. I love the final line: "We have seen strange things today." Strange could also be translated as unexpected, astonishing – or wonderful!

To Ponder:

• Why do you think Jesus pronounced forgiveness before healing for the paralysed man. Why did he not just heal him?
• If you met Jesus face to face today, what would you ask forgiveness for? How easy is it for you to seek forgiveness and receive it? 

Prayer

Lord God, you do strange and wonderful things which we do not always understand. We pray fill us with a sense of awe and wonder at your presence. Amen.