The New Testament tells us that many paralytics were healed....some as they came to Jesus.....and others through His disciples....but I want to focus on two. In the first....this particular miracle of the healing of the paralytic at Capernaum is mentioned in all three synoptic gospels....four men carried the paralytic....you know the story....they had to take him on the roof and lower him down to Jesus. In the second....Peter and John are on their way into the temple and spot a paralytic begging alms at the gate....instead of giving alms they heal the man in the name of Jesus.
The former describes a man who passionately wanted to go to Jesus....and his friends were even more passionate about wanting him to go to Jesus. They wanted....healing. The man wanted to live again! As it is related in Mark 2....."When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven'."The latter paralytic of the two did not pursue healing....he rather sought alms. He wanted more comfort in this life of suffering....and there is no mention of faith. As related in Acts 3...."And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, 'Look at us.' So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk'. And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up..."
Might this in a way be a picture of Christians today? In the above examples.....both men were healed....but which one might we be? Were we seeking Jesus and...."life....life....eternal life"....as Bunyan put it.....and thus we ran to the One who we believed could do this for us....or were we seeking alms and security of some sort. Do we have a gratitude for eternal life....a gratitude that is overwhelming....or just a dutiful gratitude for healing in this life?
