Luke 5:17-26, Part 2
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Today we’ll contemplate the second half of the story of the healing of the paralytic man. Read Luke 5:17-26 paying special attention to the reaction of the religious leaders.
Even as a human, Jesus has unbroken communication with God the Father, but it may be that rather than receiving a direct message from God, he just notices the expressions on their faces of the Pharisees and religious teachers and knows exactly what they were thinking. They are here to listen to him, and they are possibly hoping to see him do something miraculous, but instead of simply stimulating their thinking or wowing them with a miracle, Jesus does what only God can do. He forgives sin.
Just as Jesus saw the deeper need of the paralyzed man, Jesus sees the hearts of the religious leaders, and rather than move on and let the situation cool down he calls out their indignation.
Sometimes the only path toward healing begins with acknowledging and naming our skepticism and doubts.
Stop to become still and centered in the presence of Jesus. Notice your breath and receive it as a gift from God.
When you feel quiet, consider asking the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, to search your heart and reveal anything that is keeping you from trusting him completely. As thoughts come to mind, acknowledge them, and name whatever Jesus points out to you.
Read Luke 5:17-26 one last time with all of this in mind.
Once the truth is out on the table, Jesus demonstrates his power, and the forgiven and once paralyzed man jumps to his feet and heads for home praising the God whose power has set him free spiritually and physically.
Jesus answers his own question to the religious leaders with a demonstration of the power of the Kingdom of God. It is just as easy for Jesus to forgive sin as it is for him to heal a body. The words of Jesus contain creative Kingdom power – the power to restore and regenerate broken, damaged people.
Return to stillness and silence for a moment. Picture yourself in front of Jesus and imagine him speaking a word of restoration and regeneration over you. Stay with this for a while.
What might Jesus want you to remember or do as the result of your time with him today?
What will you do about that?
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