The house was small. It was probably less than 1000 square feet, according to the archeological research done on what is thought to have been the house of Simon Peter. No house found in Capernaum has a longer span than 18 feet. I assume that they were meeting in Peter’s home. A certain amount of time has passed since the end of chapter one. The crowds have died down a bit and Jesus is able to enter the city and stay. However, Jesus was still popular and while he may have been teaching his disciples, many in the town came to hear him.

One commentary said that a typical home would not have held more than 50 people standing close together. The text says that the house was full and people were standing outside, probably in the courtyard, so that no one could enter the house. So, imagine a hot day in Palestine. The house made of stone or mud brick. The crowd so great that it was hard to breathe. Yet, people were willing to sit in these conditions so that they may hear Jesus. No wonder he taught so much in the open air by the Sea of Galilee.

There were some men who were bringing a paralyzed man on a makeshift stretcher. They were bringing him to see Jesus. Of course when they got there, the place was packed. There was no way for a healthy man to get inside much less several men carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They had no intentions of returning with their friend on that stretcher. They came to see Jesus and so that is what they were going to do.

How determined were they? They went up on the roof and tore open a hole and lowered him down to Jesus. Jesus saw their faith. It was not just the faith of the man on the stretcher. Jesus saw their faith and he said to the paralyzed man, "your sins are forgiven."

These words came as a shock to many who were attending. There were scribes attending this meeting and they were shocked and offended at Jesus forgiving sin. For who can forgive sin, but God alone? They accused him of blasphemy. In their limited world, they could not imagine that the one sitting among them was God in the flesh.

Why did Jesus offer forgiveness of sin rather than heal the man? The need to be forgiven of sin was greater than the need for healing. Jesus saw more than a sick man, he saw the men who brought him. He saw the scribes and the audience, who all had a deeper need than just being healed. Jesus saw an opportunity to speak to their real needs.

Jesus said exactly what he meant to say and he meant to draw the very reaction expressed by the scribes. Note that scribes were not speaking out loud. Jesus knew what they were thinking! They asked the right question, who can forgive sins but God alone? It was a matter of authority. Only God can forgive a person of their sins. And Jesus was claiming that he had that authority.

But, how can you prove that someone’s sins have been forgiven? If I say to you, "Your sins are forgiven" how can I ever prove it? Jesus addressed that question too. In fact, what Jesus does, establishes both his authority to forgive sin and immediate proof that what he says has real meaning.

What is easier to say, your sins are forgiven or get up and walk? Jesus lays down the challenge that the scribes only dared to think. They did not ask him to prove it. All they do is accuse him of blasphemy, they have no imagination. But Jesus complicates the issue with a powerful challenge. Jesus said to them, "But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, I say to you rise, take up your pallet and go home." And the man arose from the floor and picked up his bed and went home glorifying God. The response of the scribes was "We have never seen anything like this." What else can be said. This one, who claimed to forgive sin, demonstrated his authority with considerable power.

I want you to notice three kinds of people there that day. There was the crowd. We are impressed by crowds. We think that because a church draws large crowds that they are successful. And while that is often true, sometimes it is not. Some churches draw large crowds with a lie. They become an entertainment showcase and people go, not to hear the Gospel, but to see the show. Often such churches will emphasize excitement, emotion and make wild claims for your life. But, they keep you so busy that you never see the fulfilment of the wild claims and who cares, you came for the show!

I am afraid that many who gathered in Peter’s house were there for the show. In fact, they were a hindrance to those who needed to get in to see Jesus. They blocked the way for other people. They were unconcerned with the needs of others or the souls of others, they just came for the show. Oh, they were wowed by the things that Jesus did. They ate up the things that he said. They were impressed and would readily call themselves followers of Jesus. But the fact is, they blocked those who needed to come to faith. They were a hindrance to those who had deep soul needs to hear the saving words of Jesus.

What I want to know is, are you like the crowd? Do you come just to see the show? Do you hinder those who need to hear the Word of God? Does your words, or your lifestyle or your behavior keep others from hearing the Words of Jesus? I am afraid that many, many folk who call themselves believers fit into this category.

The second group I want us to see is the Scribes. They are the perfect reversal of faith. They are anti faith. The sad thing is, they think they are deeply religious people. They are, in this case, religious leaders. Not only do they hinder others from coming to Jesus, they condemned Jesus. They could not recognize that Jesus was God in the flesh.

I am afraid that many church people become like the Scribes. I don’t know if they ever had real faith, or if they just became so crusty in their souls that this is what they become. But, they not only hinder others, they can actually destroy the faith of others. They are the negative types who can never see the good that God is doing. They can’t support the work that God does. They criticize and complain about everything and never contribute to the work of God. We don’t seem to understand that when God moves among us, when he wants do great things through us and we destroy it with our negative attitudes and our bad behavior, we are being the perfect reversal of faith. We are being worse than an unbeliever. An unbeliever does not know any better than to reject God. As believers, our rejection is sheer rebellion. Are you like the Scribes? Do you practice the perfect reversal of faith?

The third group in the story are the five men who came to Jesus. Four carried the one. Jesus looked at them and saw their faith. Faith is to be understood as basic trust in Jesus, a belief in him that motivates one to action. Faith is always active, it always does something.

Faith walks and talks and lends a hand to others. It responds to needs and it goes forth at the bidding of Christ. Faith causes us to pray and to worship, sing, and praise God. Faith will inspire us to help others in need, to share a cup of cold water and the Word of God with others. Faith will make us live a different lifestyle than the secular world. Faith presumes on us so that we might act as Jesus would act. Faith will even affect our pocket book.

Let me ask you, are you a person of faith? You do not have to be a spiritual giant or theologian or a called minister. You have to have faith, that is all. God has told us in his Word what to do. People of faith act, they keep his Word.

Faith is not for show or self glory or self gratification, nor is it a platform on which to be critical of others. Real faith is love in action; Love of God, love for each other, love for our fellow man. It is by faith that men and women gain the approval of God.