A Miraculous Healing

"Men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy" the story begins in Luke 5:18, "and they sought means to bring him in, and lay him before [Jesus]." The only problem was they couldn't bring their sick friend in because the place was packed! Even the doorways were blocked with the multitude, and there was no way to get inside.

At this point the friends could have given up and gone home. But they didn't. You can almost imagine the conversation: "What should we do?" says one. "I have an idea," says another. "Let's go up on top of the building, make an opening in the roof, and lower him to the floor!" You can also imagine the sick man at this point hearing these unusual plans and saying, "You're going to do what?"

The story continues:

"They went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

"And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee" (Luke 5:19–20).

The scribes and Pharisees thought this was blasphemous, so Jesus responded:

"Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

"But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house" (Luke 5:23–24).

The story ends beautifully:

"And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

"And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day" (Luke 5:25–26).