Luke 5:17-26 ~ the Power of the Lord was with HIm

 

Luke 5:17-26

On one of those days, as He was teaching

Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem.

 And the power of the Lord was with Him to heal.

 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 

20 And when He saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 

22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”

—He said to the man who was paralyzed—

“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 

25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 

26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

According to Christian research, 2/3rds of Christians know God has heard their prayer and given them an unexplained, no other explanation, than a miracle of God to help their private and wondrous prayer to our Father. 

Even the Scripture we read today is a Miracle. Domitian – Domitian was a Roman emperor from 81 to 96 A.D. The son of Vespasian and the younger brother of Titus, destroyer of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. 

Domitian hauled St. John from Ephesus and exiled him to Patmos. Continued to be fearful of Christians. Conducted one of the fiercest battles against Christians. Under Domitan, the Church split in half. Domitan Heresy, the Church is only for saints. Domitan tortured until Christians surrendered every fragment of the Gospels and New Testament he could find. 81-96 AD. Because of Domitan – we have the word traitor: Part of the Church wanted to forever exile anyone who lied to get out of torture or gave up Scripture. Forgiveness is the business of the Church and Jesus Christ.

Because of Domitan, we only have 15 fragments of the Gospel before 96 AD. But these portions exist and date to 30 AD.

Even the Scripture we read today is a Miracle. Someone wrote this down, someone carried the Scripture to safety. And someone protected the people and the papyrus.

 
One of the two prayers I remember God worked and I think of and have my faith bolstered: 

In 5th grade, 1975, I had a friend who walked on the bone of her side ankle. She was born like this. And I took this to my grandmother and step-grandfather, Rev Tate Young. We began to pray for her at Sunday dinners. And suddenly, her foot was correct. Then in 2011, I was in Bible Study, in another city, decades later, and was asked, what was the first prayer God answered and you remember. You were the only person with this in your prayer life. I answered my friend's ankle and her name. And, behold! We had this friend in common, across the gigantic State of Texas, many years later!  And she knew of our mutual friend's miracle from Jesus.

In Arkansas, we were vacationing with extended family, November 1993. I stayed behind to attend to our youngest son, and then had to change shoes to hike.  I had to move quickly to catch up. And as I did, a couple, in their 50s, just wouldn't move to the side of the path. I had to say, excuse me, and then touch her arm to move past her. If I didn't, I could be lost on the hike. I noticed her arm was as hard as a rock and said, “Muscular arm.” Both cried out, “It's the scar from an enormous dog attack!!! And it's painful in this state!”  I briefly turned around and said I am so sorry, I didn't mean to cause you pain.  “Oh, it's not you, it's just terrible.”  I said, Ok, I will pray for you, but I must hurry to catch up.  It was automatic. And they said nothing. I was slightly embarrassed. 

As I caught up to Edward, I told him how that fell out of my mouth.  The next morning, I was leaving the State Lodge after breakfast, again trying to catch up for cleaning up after my sons.  And the husband, caught me in the exit hallway and really yelled at me.  Loudly. He said, “What did you do to my Wife???” I was puzzled and asked for clarification. He yelled, “You said you prayed for her?” Now I looked at the exit, get away from nutty.  He quit yelling, seeing my reaction, and asked again, “Did you pray for her?”  Yes, I did. How? I answered, I asked the Lord as I hurried down the path. Did you say the Prayer? What? The one in the Bible?  Hmm. “Oh, yes, the Lord's Prayer.”   What else did you do?  Om. I told my husband and we probably both prayed, but not anything very formal.  The husband asked, “You just prayed and it was casual and she was completely healed from her upper arm to her elbow?” Yes. 

Her husband replied, not looking at me. “We have to get back to Church.” To his back, going down the hallway, I said, “Sounds like the Lord would like that.” 

Lent is a good time to tell the people you love about Your Answered Prayers. And ask them to go to Church, Again!

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, 

for I am with you; 

be not dismayed, 

for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, 

I will help you, 

I will uphold you with 

My Righteous Right Hand.

Abba, Father,

Our heart hears the call from You.

And we see in Scripture 

the mercy of the merciful

Luke 17:17-19

Then Jesus answered, 

“Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 

Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 

And He said to him, 

“Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Help us to live each day

putting You first.

As the Name of Jesus covers us

and the Holy Spirit dwells in us.

We ask healing

of Your Good Creation

The fullness of the earth is Yours.

The healing of those we pray for
in our heart and soul.

Dwell in us, Father,

Dwell fully in those we love,

Help us to seek You first

and we will finish well in Jesus Christ.

Thank You.

Our God is working. His Son, 

Jesus is working.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

YES Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You Jesus