Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

I find it interesting to see Jesus go back to his hometown here. As he approached the town there were not crowds of people waiting for him, as in other towns. Instead, there were four men carrying a mat. They came to him with a paralyzed man. Sometimes a person may care most for those closest to them, but the close family and friends cannot see past their childhood experiences to what God is doing.

Jesus, knowing his heart, forgave his sins first. He was making a statement. He wanted people to know that God sees their hearts too, and God wants them to be clean on the inside first. Here is this man who can’t even walk, clearly they were bringing him to Jesus for physical healing. But Jesus healed his heart first and forgave his sins.

I believe this is a very important miracle because it focuses us on what matters most to God. God is not some “magic genie” that we go to in order to make life easier. Sometimes he does answer our prayers in ways that give us reprieve from suffering. But more importantly, we are to seek him and have a heart that is after his own heart.

When we complain (like the Pharisees did in this passage) that he doesn’t heal like we would want him to, he will also correct us. Jesus is challenging us to seek the greater healing. He wants our hearts to be after his own heart.

He does perform the miracle here, to heal this paralyzed man. This is clearly a very powerful miracle. But he implies that the more powerful miracle is not the physical healing, but the healing of this man’s heart in forgiving his sins.

What can I learn from this passage? I believe it is telling me to seek first a pure heart with God, before healing in the physical realm or other personal needs. This does not mean that personal needs don’t matter. They do matter to God. But he wants our hearts first.

Where is my heart today? Have I humbled myself before the Lord and given him full control of my heart?

Lord, you know what lies before me today. You know the many things I have on my checklist to get done. You understand the relationships that I am involved in that take energy and effort. I lay all these things at your feet, and I ask you to heal my heart. Each day, help me to come back to you and let go of the things of this world that create stress and fear. Amen.