Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city. And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This fellow blasphemes.” And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ 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”—then He *said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.” And he got up and went home. But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He *said to him,“Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.
Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Some thoughts and questions:
1) It seems as though people were constantly greeting Jesus whenever he made an appearance. Did more people come to Jesus or did Jesus come to more people?
2) “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” - I find it quite interesting and confusing how Jesus would start by telling the man that he was forgiven. It was a physical sickness that was mentioned. I believe that this portrays how spiritual sickness is of eternal importance, while physical sickness is of finite concern.
3) It's odd to me how there were doctors during Jesus' time. When people bring up "the miracle of medicine", I see it as being something that only belongs to more recent centuries / the century that we are currently in. Was there something personal, or something unique within the healing which came through Jesus? Was there healing which was designated to ONLY be done through Jesus? Yes, I think that there was. The crucifixion, which led to the resurrection, which led to the ascension, which led to the opportunity of the Holy Spirit being accepted by those who were broken.
4) Compassion over sacrifice? But what about carrying your cross (Matthew 16:24)?
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