Healing of the paralytic in Capernaum.

(Matt. 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26).

Matthew, Mark and Luke are the three Evangelists that narrate analogically on this miracle. Moreover, Mark names Capernaum as its location, while Matthew states that the Lord performed this miracle, having come “to His Own city” — Capernaum - which became worthy of this calling (as mentioned above); Saint Golden-tongue gives witness to this: “He was born in Bethlehem, brought up in Nazareth, but lived in Capernaum.” The paralytic was brought to the Lord on a bed, and consequently, could not move by himself. Judging by the description, the actual name of the illness and its type, as narrated in the Gospel, he suffered from an infirmity that in today's terms is called paralysis. Saints Mark and Luke add that because of the mass of people surrounding Christ inside the house, those that brought the paralytic, were unable to enter, so they lowered him on his bed through the temporary roof over the courtyard. During the hot season, temporary roofs were erected over courtyards and were made out of planks, leather or cloth and were bordered by walls of houses with flat roofs, making it quite easy to get to the rooftop by ladder. Only strong faith could move those who brought the paralytic to such a bold action. Seeing this faith, and also the faith of the sufferer, who allowed himself to be lowered in such a risky manner before the feet of Jesus, the Lord speaks to him: “Son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you,” — thus showing the close relationship between his illness and his sins. According to the teachings of the Word of God, illnesses appear as the result of sins (John 9:2) and are sometimes sent by God as punishment for them (1 Cor. 5:3-5, 11:30). Often, the link between sickness and sin is quite evident eg. illnesses from drunkenness and dissoluteness. That’s why, in order to cure the illness, you first have to remove the sin by having it forgiven. Apparently, the paralytic regarded himself as such a huge sinner that he hardly hoped to be forgiven. That’s why the Saviour enheartened him with these words: “Son, be of good cheer!” Those Scribes and Pharisees that were present, began to mentally condemn Him for His blasphemy, viewing His words as an unlawful appropriation of authority, which belonged only to One God. The Lord, knowing what they were thinking, let them know that their thoughts are known to Him by saying: “For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk?’” Clearly, just as the first, so does the second require the same Divine authority.

“But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” — then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Saint Golden-tongue explains excellently, the coherency of the speech: “Inasmuch as you cannot see the healing of the soul, while the healing of the body is evident, then I join the last to the first, which, while being lower is more evident so that through this mode, bring belief in the higher, the unseeable.” Following the Lord’s words, the miracle of healing confirmed that Christ, endowed with Divine power, did not fruitlessly say to the leper: “Your sins are forgiven you.” Moreover, it mustn’t be thought that the Lord performed the miracle in order to convince the Pharisees in His Divine omnipotence. This miracle, like all the others, was His work of Divine goodness and mercy. The sufferer witnessed his full recovery by carrying the bed on which he was brought to the Lord. The result of the miracle was that the people became amazed, and praised the Lord for giving such power to humans, ie. evidently, not only the Pharisees, but also the common people did not believe in Jesus as the Son of God, regarding Him as just a human.