The Miracles of Jesus
Lesson 8: Healing of the Paralytic
Mark 2:1-12; Matthew 9:2-8; Luke 5:17-26
Back to Capernaum!
Located on the Northwest
shore of the Sea of Galilee,
Capernaum was visited often
by Jesus.
Typical 1st Century Israelite House
(Note the stone walls & flat roof)
The Healing of the Paralytic
Mark 2:1-12; Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26
Background:
 Jesus’ preaching and miracles drew multitudes
of people to Him (Mark 1:28, 32, 35-37, 45)
 The setting of this miracle is in a house in
Capernaum, but Jesus’ fame was so great that
“Pharisees and teachers of the law (were) sitting
by, who had come out of every town of Galilee,
Judea, and Jerusalem.” (Luke 5:17)
The Healing of the Paralytic
Mark 2:1-12; Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26
Details of the miracle
(Mark 2:1-4)
 The paralytic and his four
friends go to extraordinary
lengths to get to Jesus,
exemplifying persistence,
determination and faith
(cp. Matthew 15:21-28;
Luke 18:35-39; 19:1-10;
John 12:20-21)
The Healing of the Paralytic
Mark 2:1-12; Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26
Details of the miracle

(Mark 2:5)
Jesus’ first response is to
forgive the paralytic’s sins.
 There is no evidence that
sin caused the paralysis.
 Forgiveness of sin and
physical healing are both
works of God (2 Chronicles
7:14; Psalm 103:3)
 Physical healing is often a
metaphor for spiritual healing
(Matthew 9:12; Psalm 41:4;
Jeremiah 3:22; Hosea 14:4)
The Healing of the Paralytic
Mark 2:1-12; Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26
Details of the miracle (Mark 2:6-12)
The scribes reason in their hearts: “Why does this
Man speak blasphemies?” “Who can forgive sins
but God?”
 Jesus perceives their thoughts (cf. John 2:25; Rev.
2:23; Ps.139:1-2) and questions their assumptions.
 Jesus heals the paralytic to demonstrate that “the
Son of Man” has power to forgive sins



The description “Son of Man” is used for self
designation by both Ezekiel (93x) and Jesus (82x); its
significance here may relate more to Daniel 7:13-14.
The power of Jesus to heal physical infirmity is a visible
SIGN of his power to forgive iniquity.
The Healing of the Paralytic
Mark 2:1-12; Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26
Conclusions and Consequences:
Jesus met with and handled hostility and
controversy.
 The paralytic was healed immediately “in the
presence of them all” (Mark 2:12).



Disciples and detractors alike witnessed the miracle.
The people were “all amazed, and they glorified
God and were filled with fear, saying, ‘We have
seen strange things today!’” (Luke 5:26) and
“We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:12)