An Atheistic Bible Study Of The Gospels Jesus Heals A Paralytic

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As with the preceding miracle, this one takes place on one of Jesus’s visits to Capernaum, where he was clearly enjoying some success in his early ministry. This healing is covered by Matthew, Mark And Luke but not by John. The details vary somewhat in each of the three tellings. Matthew 9:2-8 Jesus is approached by a group of people who bring along a paralytic, a man totally paralyzed. He is lying on some kind of stretcher-bed carried by his friends. Jesus talks to the helpless man telling him simply that his sins are forgiven. Scribes among the observers are outraged and denounce Jesus as a blasphemer. Jesus take them to task, stating that it is easier to forgive sins than to tell the sick man to get up and walk, and that while he can command the sick to heal and the paralyzed to walk, forgiving sins I a greater miracle till. With that, Jesus tells the paralytic to take up his own bed and go home. The man immediately does just that, converting all who see the event to belief in the divinity of Jesus. It I not clear how many observers know or recognize the paralytic. He could easily be an actor with those transporting him being accomplices. The paralyzed man leaves the area as soon as he is seen being healed, possibly to avoid being questioned too closely. As to healing sins, there is no evidence of any sins or any change in behaviour suggesting that the burden of sin has gone. On the same basis I save you all now from the invisible purple dragon that was tickling your kneecaps. Mark 2:1-12 While Matthew did not say where Jesus was within Capernaum and the assumption I that he is outdoors, Mark has Jesus preaching in a house that has become very crowded. The people bringing the stretcher bearing the paralytic actually break a hole in the roof of the house to lower the stretcher in towards Jesus. Jesus offers to heal the man because of the faith and determination of the people bearing him rather than his own. Again, Jesus declares that he I removing the burden of sin rather than curing the illness. As with Matthew, Mark includes the challenge from the scribes, and on finally healing the sick man, who walks around with his bed (not necessarily leaving the scene) Jesus himself states that such a healing can only some from the Son of God. Here the paralytic is lowered into a damaged house, creating a dramatic staged entrance, and the former paralytic walks around in front of the witnesses in a restrictive space while Jesus spells out to all listening where his healing powers supposedly originate. Luke 5:17-26 Here the Scribes are again present along with Pharisees and people from all over the region, including Judea and Jerusalem. Interestingly, Capernaum is not referenced and the exact location of the event is not specified. The sick man does leave for home as he did in Matthew’s account, though Jesus has not been seen giving specific instructions on such a course of action this time. The witnesses praise God but they are also frightened by the events they have witnessed. The accounts vary in several details, and there are way too many unanswered questions here. Arthur Chappell