THE GREATEST MIRACLE
Luke 5:17-31
- The Whisnants sing a song that says:
You touched the blind man and when his eyes were opened
He saw in whom he believed
Then You fed five thousand with five loaves of bread
And two little fish from the sea
Then You calmed the storms with three little words
Then You turned the water into wine
Oh, You raised the dead, made the lame walk again
But these miracles, they just can't compare to mine
Of all the many miracles that Jesus has performed throughout history, none is any greater than the miracle of salvation!
Early in His ministry multitudes of people flocked to where Jesus was. But as time went on a transition took place. John 6 tells us that "many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." It seems that the majority of the crowd was more interested the miracles that Jesus performed than the message that He preached.
The physical miracles that Jesus performed were very important. But the truth is, those miracles were a means to an end. Far more important than any physical healing was the spiritual healing that Jesus could provide. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever; What He did back then, He can do today! He is still able provide physical healing, but greater than this is the fact that He is able to forgive us of our sins and save our lost souls.
We find an illustration of Jesus' healing power in Luke 5:17-31. Jesus healed a man who was paralyzed. But He did not stop with physical healing, He went on to transform his life spiritually and eternally. I would like to examine his story and preach on "The Greatest Miracle".
This chapter begins with Jesus preaching to a standing room only crowd. Word had spread of the many amazing miracles Jesus had performed in that region. By this time Jesus had cast a demon out of a man who was possessed and He healed Peter's mother in law.
Mark 1:34 says that "He healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
In the preceding verses Jesus healed a man who suffered from the disease of leprosy. Now look with me to Luke 5:17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed...
Those who had experienced a miracle at the hand of Jesus went out and told others of all that He had done. When Jesus returned to Capernaum news began to spread that He was in the area. So many people were gathered together that the house was full. Outside of this house was a man who was in desperate need of a miracle. He had some devoted friends who were not going to let any obstacle hinder them from getting him to Jesus. They climbed up to the roof and began to rip it apart so that they could lower their friend down to where Jesus was. I want us to walk through this passage and consider what those 4 men saw as they looked through the hole in the roof that day.
- The first thing that these 4 men saw was:
I. JESUS AND HIS AMAZING COMPASSION
There were numerous people inside this house who needed a miracle. It is likely that there were many others outside who were in search of physical healing. When Jesus saw this man being let down through the roof, He noticed his helpless situation. Jesus had compassion on him and worked a great miracle in his life.
- This paralyzed man received assistance from several different people. Let's examine:
A. THE HELP THAT THIS MAN RECEIVED
There were four men who were willing to do all that was in their power to get this man to Jesus. This shows us that:
1) HE RECEIVED HELP FROM SOME DEVOTED FRIENDS - v18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.
There was a multitude gathered around Jesus to see what He could do in their own lives. But these men were not there for themselves, they were there for their friend. They were willing to do what was necessary to see him receive a miracle. This is a great picture of the kind of devotion we should possess. We should have enough compassion and concern for others that we would seek to get them to Jesus.
- Not only did he receive help from some devoted friends, v4 shows us that:
2) HE RECEIVED HELP FROM SOME DETERMINED FRIENDS - v19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.
These men were unable to get their friend through the door because the crowd was too large. As a result they climbed up on the roof and begin to tear it apart so that they could lower their friend down into the room where Jesus was. They were determined to get him to Jesus! They were not going to let any obstacle hinder them from getting this man to the Master.
No matter what obstacles or hindrances we may encounter, we should be willing to persevere and take our friends to Jesus.
This man received help from some devoted friends, and some determined friends, but he also received help from a divine Friend.
3) HE RECEIVED HELP FROM A DIVINE FRIEND - v20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."
These men not only believed that Jesus could heal their friend, they believed that He would heal him. They believed that this man was going to walk out of the house that day. These men show us the kind of friends we need in our life. They also show us what kind of friends we should be to others!
We should have enough love and compassion for our friends that we would take them to the Savior. We should also have faith that Jesus can and will work a miracle in their life. Because his friends took him to Jesus, this man's life was changed forever. Let us do all that we can to ensure that our friends can say the same about us.
- Now that we have seen the help that this man received, let's consider:
B) THE HEALING THAT THIS MAN EXPERIENCED
This man received two types of healing. First of all, Jesus worked a miracle concerning this man's physical health.
- Notice that:
1. HE WAS HEALED PHYSICALLY
Luke 5:24 (Jesus) said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." 25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"
This man was paralyzed, he could do nothing for himself. But at the sound of Jesus' voice he was healed. Immediately after Jesus spoke those words, he picked up his stretcher and walked out of that house a new man. This was a great miracle but it was not the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performed. In fact, this was not even the greatest miracle that Jesus performed in this man's life.
- You see, not only was he healed physically:
2. HE WAS HEALED SPIRITUALLY - v20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."
This healing was far greater and much more important than his physical healing. It did not matter if he never took one step here on earth, Jesus ensured that this man would live forever. Everyone there probably thought that his greatest problem was being paralyzed. But Jesus knew that his greatest problem was sin. And that is the issue that Jesus dealt with first! Whether you know it or not, sin is your greatest problem as well.
You may be living with some serious physical ailment...you may have even received a terminal diagnosis, no matter how bad it is, it cannot compare to your sin problem! The Bible says that apart from Christ we are "dead in trespasses and sins".
If you don't know Jesus you need more than a healing... you need to be born again! The One who healed this paralytic is the only one who can heal you. His name is Jesus, He is the Son of God and He has the power to heal and forgive.
Jesus looked at this man and said "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." Right there in Peter's living room his guilt, shame and sin was taken away! When you trust in Jesus for salvation, all of your sins will be instantly and eternally forgiven.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Jesus has the power to forgive your sin, erase your past, and remove your guilt and shame. In an instant this man was healed and his life was changed, but not everyone was happy about it.
The scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
They were correct in the fact that God is the only one who can forgive sins. The problem was that they did not recognize that God the Son was right there with them. Notice how Jesus responded to His antagonists - Luke 5:22 when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
Jesus did not disagree with their assertion that God alone can forgive sins. However He did go on to demonstrate that He possessed the authority to forgive sins. When He did this all who were present witnessed His power and authority. For men, both forgiveness and the power to heal are impossible. But for God, healing and forgiveness are easy.This fact is proven by the miracle that follows.
Luke 5:24 Jesus said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." 25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"
At the sound of Jesus' voice this man was completely transformed. There is still wonderful healing power in the word of Jesus Christ. This man came to Jesus in faith, I encourage you to do the same today!
Recognize that you are like this paralyzed man... you are unable to do anything about your condition on your own. Jesus is your only hope. Humbly bow before Him and cry out to Him. Trust in His miracle working power and let Him do the rest. Jesus will forgive you of your sins and to grant you eternal life, you can experience "The Greatest Miracle".
