Luke 5:17-26 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Here is an account of a man sick with palsy who was healed by the power of God. The reason this is recorded in God’s Word is to show us how this man was healed. If we will put our faith into action with the same determination that he did, we will experience the manifestation of God’s power to heal. The place where Jesus was teaching was filled with religious leaders. Verse 17 says there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by. They had come from several of the surrounding towns.

The Word says, "and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.". Any of the people present could have been healed. The question arises, "why was only one man healed?" Were the Pharisees and doctors of the law not healed because it was not God’s will? No. The same power that heals a man also forgives him of his sins.

In verse 23-24, Jesus said, "whether is easier to say, thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say rise up and walk! But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon the earth to forgive sins." It was as much the will of God that the religious people be healed as it was that they be forgiven. They began reasoning, saying, "Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" These men had access to the written word of God. They were the doctors of the law and the religious leaders of the day. They should have already known His grace.

Psalm 103:2 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.

Speaking of God’s covenant, it says He forgives all their iniquities and heals all their diseases. God’s will had already been established. The man with the palsy was not forgiven and healed because Jesus spoke it. Jesus spoke it because of what God had already established. He only spoke the Word of God.

John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am, he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

Jesus was simply agreeing with the covenant and stated to the man what was true about him as far as God was concerned. It was his covenant right to be healed and forgiven. It was also the covenant right of the Pharisees and the doctors of the law. The reason many Christians are not healed today is because they reason in their minds which causes their attention to be diverted from the Word of God. Many believe healing has passed away. However, when the attention is on the Word, a demand on God’s power will be made. The Word of God is forever settled.

Psalm 119:89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

The Word will never change, therefore, God’s will to heal has never changed. The man with the palsy saw Jesus as the source of the healing power of God. He and his friends were determined to reach Jesus in spite of all the obstacles that stood in the way. The Word says Jesus saw their faith. Their faith made a demand on God’s power. The power of God healed the man of his sickness. The source of the power of God to heal is his Word.

Matthew 13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.