Brian Fisher

Grace Bible Church

“Through the Roof”

Luke 5:17-26

Many Americans live according to the creed: “God helps those who help themselves.” I don’t need a God who helps those who help themselves. I need a God who helps the helpless.

Setting – 5:17-19

Capernaum (Lk. 4:31; home of Peter and Andrew); His own city (Mt. 9; this was His home base, site of many miracles; Mt. 11:23); Galilee where He had begun His ministry; Mark 1:21-34,39,44-45 (then He goes throughout Galilee)

Quite possible that He is in Peter’s home.

Teaching in the synagogues; healing; 5:15, 17 – Jesus was attracting national attention

Pharisees; non-priests; guard the Law

Teachers of the Law - those who give “halacha” or authoritative interpretation of the Law

It is crowded; not only teachers, but common people attracted to Jesus

Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”

The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”

—Luke 5:20-21

Every one of Jesus miracles had a point; Acts 2:22

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know….”

—Acts 2:22

I. Jesus has ALL authority – 5:20-21

Luke 5:24a – point of this miracle

Authority – the right to do something

Authority to forgive to sins

Only God has that right because sin is against Him

Biblical evidence – Is. 43:25; Ps. 51:4

“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.”

—Isaiah 43:25

Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.

—Psalm 51:4

Right assessment, wrong attitude

5:21-22; “reasoning”; they never enter into His power and praise

Series of miracles; attitude hardening; Luke 6:6-11

II. Jesus has ALL power

Luke 5:17; Acts 1:8 (you will receive POWER)

Power – the ability to do something; force; energy; strength

Authority (right); power (might)

Jesus has claimed He has the right to forgive; now He will show the power

Power to remove sin; greatest display of power because greatest need

The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”

But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?

“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

“But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He said to the paralytic—“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.”

Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.

They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

—Luke 5:21-26

Jews saw relationship between sin and sickness – Ps. 103:3

Who pardons all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases….

—Psalm 103:3

1. Specific sin, specific ailment; John 5:14

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.”

—John 5:14

2. Life in a fallen world; Who sinned? This man or his parents?

Luke doesn’t tell us; miracle proves Jesus authority and power to FORGIVE sins.

What does that mean? Significant theological subject.

Meaning of forgiveness – Is. 59:2

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

—Isaiah 59:2

No barrier to relationship

Are you paralyzed?

Do you have a need that you cannot meet? That only God can meet?

Needs v. wants

Man wanted to be healed; didn’t happen immediately, but greater need was met

I don’t need to be healthy; I don’t need a long life.

I need to be holy; I need endurance; I need perspective; I need desperate faith

I see desperate faith in this story; these men are desperate

Faith is persistent; These men will stop at nothing to get close to Jesus

As the deer pants for the water brook

One thing I have asked of the Lord, that I will SEEK

How bad do you want to be near Jesus?

Do you believe?

Do you believe that if you get close, He can do a miracle, He can meet your needs? Or are you afraid you will be disappointed?

Mark 6:5; Mt. 13:58; He did not do many miracles because of their unbelief

Conclusion

Go before the Lord and tear off the roof

Ask Him to meet your greatest need; need of a friend.

Stir up desperate faith in me