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Melissa
Mrs. -----8VT
19 October 2015
Movement and Feeling Regained!
Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26
Oomph! I tumble to the ground as the people around me surge towards town in hopes of
getting to meet the Messiah. Id heard Jesus had come into Capernaum again, but wasnt
positive. All these crowds had been the reason he had left in the first place. I have high hopes to
meet him too, so I hurriedly begin to go with the flow of people.
Psst! someone whispers. I look around from side to side and dont see anyone. Finally,
I look down and recognize my paralytic friend on his mat. For my whole life, I remember him
lying on his mat begging for food. I notice his mat is beginning to fray, and he doesnt look the
best either.
Will you help me go see Him? he asks. I immediately know who he is talking about
and decide to help. I feel sorry for him because he is quadriplegic, someone who has a loss of
muscle function in all his limbs.
Ill gladly help, but first let me gather some of our friends to help pick you up, I
respond. I find and bring them to him. We each take a corner of the mat and carefully walk him
to the meeting place. We guess it is at Peters house since he is one of the closest disciples to
Jesus and are correct. When we get there, we arent certain on how to get our paralytic to Jesus.
The house is at its maximum capacity; they are like sardines in a can. People are even outside

hanging from windows and doorways hoping to catch a glimpse or word from Him. Fights are
beginning to break out as people push and shove to get to the front.
How are we ever supposed to get our friend to see Jesus with this crowd? I wonder in
despair.
Please dont give up yet, the paralytic begs as if he knows my thoughts, There has to
be a way to see Him. We just need to think.
Wait, my friend says, What about the roof?
We hustle our friend up the external stairway to the roof. The crowds of people start to
notice us and murmur words either of inspiration or discouragement, but we dont care. We set
him down and tear through the roof. Do you know how hard and heavily layered a roof is? The
first layer is the clay, sprinkled with sand and pebbles. Then, the second section is a mat of reeds
woven together. The last section is some wooden beams laid together to create a sound structure.
It mightve been God-given strength, but we tore through the different roof coats with our bare
hands. Eventually we reached an opening where we gently lowered the paralyzed man down. I
was so relieved we were able to achieve the goal and maybe bring about a mans healing.
Yes! Hallelujah! We did it! the three other friends shouted.
Shh! We need to see what happens next! I yell in reprimand.
We all crouch over the hole in the roof, looking from an aerial view. The crowd of people
is astonished at the acts weve committed to get our friend to Jesus. Slowly, Jesus strolls towards
him.
You are forgiven, he quietly declares. The comment creates a huge uproar among a
certain group of religious leaders called the Pharisees. They have been following Jesus around

not because there is a love for Him, but instead to try to trip Him up. They believe the wellknown theory that a persons handicap is a consequence of a sin of his.
How is this possible? Only God can forgive sins! the Pharisees argue, He must be
blaspheming! The crowd shifts uneasily as if knowing something is brewing.
I have not lied, Jesus peacefully asserts, I am the Son of God, so I have the authority
to forgive sins. He then turns to the paralyzed man, who has been slowly wilting with all of this
going on.
Please, stand up and go home, Jesus commands. The man slowly gets to his feet,
possibly for the first time in his whole life. He is a little shaky at first, but then he stands still. He
takes a deep breath moving one foot forward and exchanging his weight. He continues to take
another step and another. His face transforms into one of ecstasy.
Hooray! he exclaims, Jesus is the savior! I am so excited and glad for him. He
deserves this, even if the handicap was based off of a sin. Looking below once more, the crowd
seems to be pretty happy. A few are nervous and confused; they dont understand what happened
and wonder if it was a trick. Most everyone understand what has gone down and gather around
Jesus even closer. They want to learn as much as they can from the Son of God. I go to climb off
the roof when I see my friend, once paralyzed, skipping off into the distance.