The Setting for the Miracle: The healing of the paralyzed man by Jesus in Capernaum is covered in all three synoptic Gospels. It appears Our Lord had not returned in a public manner but had done so in a private way. Eventually, it became known that He was back in Peter’s house, and a large enough crowd gathered to hear Him preach, that even the door was blocked for access.
Roof Construction in the First Century
At that time, it was common for roofs to have spaced wooden trusses upon which a kind of firm lattice of straw mats or reeds would be laid and covered over with earthen plaster. Yearly repairs were required just prior to the rainy season.
Paralytic Entry
One cannot help but marvel at both the ingenuity and faith of the four men, who seeing the crowd, elected to dismantle a portion of the roof for access. Likely, hardened plaster pieces would have fallen on the people below.
I have often visualized Peter looking up and yelling at the men who were about to destroy a portion of the roof, only to have Jesus grab Peter’s arm with a smile of wonder and instruct Peter to instead watch them lower the paralysed man.
Did it take more courage for the four men to lower to paralytic, or for the poor paralyzed man to trust this well-intentioned, but hare-brained idea to obtain access to Jesus? Without a doubt, the Messiah was impressed by both.
The Dialogue and Miracle Cure
Seeing “their” faith, not just the paralytic’s faith, Jesus says “Your sins are forgiven.” We here note that the faith of others can work to heal us, through prayers but also through loving acts.
“He is blaspheming … God alone can forgive sins.”
Jesus knowing their thoughts asks, “What is easier to ‘say’ ‘Your sins are forgiven, or to ‘say’ Rise pick up your mat and walk?”
The Significance of “say”
Many of the Early Church Fathers and theologians have pondered Jesus’ words and focused on the word “say.”
St Augustine, in particular, notes that it is easier to say that another’s sins are forgiven because a forgiveness fraud cannot be proven as it is not subject to a perception by the senses – but when the act is corroborated by an authoritative “say” ordering a crippled man to rise and walk – then that physical cure being perceived by the senses of the crowd, proves Jesus’ authority to forgive sins. There, the carnal sign was given to prove the spiritual act.
While Jesus asked which was easier to “say” we acknowledge that for God both are equally easy. The physical cure informed the crowd that Jesus had not blasphemed, and as such also suggested He might in fact be God.
The Final Reaction
The paralytic picked up his mat and went away in the sight of everyone including the objecting scribes. Now they were all amazed and found it easier to “say”: “We have never seen anything like this.”
The carnal sign given to prove the spiritual act. So very helpful in understanding this miracle! Thank you Jerry.