Strange things

We plunge into the context: Christ teaching, the Pharisees checking, the Spirit working and the people wanting.

Out of this comes the concern of four friends for their paralysed friend, to bring him to Jesus. Nothing will prevent them.

When they break through to Christ, he shows his compassion by forgiving the man for his sins, thus identifying his own priority and our greatest need.

This calls forth contention, as the Pharisees and teachers of the law react angrily to Christ's exercise of the divine prerogative to forgive sins.

Christ confronts them, responding to their complaint with a challenge of his own.

To prove his point, the Lord issues a command to the paralysed man: "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." Christ's power displayed in this should validate the power he claims in forgiving sins.

And then there is the question of consequences. The man glorifies God for healing within and without. The mob glorifies God with fear, impressed and confused. The Pharisees and the scribes .... they might be part of the crowd, or they might be significant by their absence. And you? How will you respond to this demonstration of the power of the Son of Man to forgive sins?