Jesus
came to Capernaum again. Soon the whole
town knew that he was there. The people came running and crowded into the house
and round the doors. Jesus told them all that God loves them.
Then
four men came, carrying a paralysed man. They
wanted to bring their friend to Jesus, but the crowd did not move aside. They
could not get through. So the four men climbed onto the flat roof. They made
a hole in the ceiling, just above the place where Jesus was. Then they
lowered the paralysed man on the stretcher. Jesus
saw that these men trusted him. He said to the paralytic: your guilt is
forgiven.
Some
scribes heard what Jesus said. They thought: How dare he speak like that?
That is blasphemy!No man can forgive
sins. Only god had the power to do that. Jesus read their thoughts. He said
to them: What are these thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier to say: Your
sins are forgiven, or: Lame man, get up, take your stretcher and go home! The
man stood up immediately, took his stretcher and left. Everyone could see it.
They praised God and said to one another: We have never seen anything like this.
