GRM 64.1.3-4.5
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
64.1 I see the shore of the lake of Gennesaret. And I can see the boats beached by the fishermen; on the foreshore, leaning against the boats, are Peter and Andrew, intent on mending the nets, which their assistants bring them still dripping, having rinsed them in the lake to remove entangled rubbish. About ten yards away, John and James, bent over their boat, are busy at tidying it up, and they are helped by an assistant and by a man about fifty or fifty-five years old, who I think is Zebedee, because the assistant calls him «master» and also because he is very like James.
Peter and Andrew, with their backs to the boat, are working silently knotting the threads of the nets and fixing corks to them. Now and again they exchange a few words about their work, which, as far as I understand, has not been profitable.
Peter is sorry about it, not because of the loss of profit or the unprofitable work, but he says: «I am sorry, because… what shall we do to feed these poor people? We receive only occasional offerings and I am not going to touch the ten pieces of silver and the seven drachmas we collected during the last four days. Only the Master can tell me to whom and how that money is to be given. And He will not be back here until Sabbath! If we had had a good haul!… I would have cooked the small fish for the poor… and if anyone at home grumbled, I would not have cared. Healthy people can find food for themselves. But sick people!…»
«Above all that paralytic!… They have already travelled so much to bring him here…» says Andrew.
(...) [Jesus returns to his disciples, and the Master delivers a sermon in the home of one of his apostles.]
People crowd into the big room at the back of the house, which is used as a store for nets, ropes, baskets, oars, sails, and provisions. Peter must have put it at Jesus’ disposal, because everything has been piled up in one corner to make room. The lake cannot be seen from here. Only its gently lapping waves can be heard. Instead one can see the low greenish wall of the kitchen garden, with the old vine and the leafy fig-tree. There are people even on the road, as they pass from the room into the kitchen garden and hence onto the road.
64.4 Jesus begins to speak. In the front row, there are five… high-ranking people, who have elbowed their way through the crowd taking advantage of the fear they strike into poor people. Their sumptuous garments and their pride announce them as Pharisees and doctors.
(...) 64.5 «Master!» shouts Peter amidst the crowd, «the sick people are here. Two of them can wait until You come out, but this one is crushed amongst the crowd and… he cannot stay here any longer. It is impossible for us to come in. Shall I send him back?»
«No, lower him down through the roof.»
«You are right. We will do that at once.»
I can hear them shuffling on the low roof of the big room, the terrace of which is not built of cement, as the store-room is not really part of the house. The roof is formed with branches covered by chips of stone like slate. I do not know what stone it is. They make an opening through which, by means of ropes, they lower down the little stretcher on which the patient is lying. It is lowered in front of Jesus. The crowds throng closer to see.
«Both you and who brought you have great faith.»
«Oh! Lord! How could we have no faith in You?»
«Well, I say to you: son (he is a very young man) your sins are forgiven.»
The man looks at him, crying… perhaps he is somewhat disappointed because he was hoping to be healed in his body. The Pharisees and doctors whisper something to one another turning up their noses, foreheads and mouths in disdain.
«Why are you muttering, more in your hearts than with your lips? According to you, it is easier to say to the paralytic: “Your sins are forgiven” or “Get up, take your little bed and walk away”? You think that only God can forgive sins. But you cannot answer which of these things is greater, because this man, whose whole body is lost to him, has spent a lot of money without being healed. And he can only be healed by God. Now, that you may learn that I can do everything, that you may learn that the Son of man has authority both over bodies and souls, on the earth and in Heaven, I say to him: “Get up. Pick up your bed and walk. Go home and be holy”.»
The man jerks, he shouts, stands up, he throws himself at Jesus’ feet, kisses and caresses them, he cries and laughs, and his relatives and the crowd do likewise. The crowd divides into two to let him pass, as if he were triumphant, and they follow him rejoicing. The five resentful men go away, conceited and as stiff as sticks.
Annotation
Matthew 9:1-8
Jesus got into a boat, made the crossing again, and went to his town of Capernaum.
Behold, a paralyzed man was brought to him, lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Trust, my child, your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes were saying to themselves, "This one blasphemes."
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, asked, "Why are you thinking evil thoughts? For what is easier? To say, "Your sins are forgiven", or to say, "Get up and walk"? Well, that you may know that the Son of Man has the power on earth to forgive sins... - Jesus then addressed the paralyzed man - get up, take your stretcher, and go home." He got up and went home.
When the crowds saw this, they were filled with fear, and gave glory to God who had given such power to men.
Mark 2, 1-12
A few days later, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word spread that he was at home. So many people gathered that there was no room, not even in front of the door, and he proclaimed the Word to them.
Some people arrived and brought him a paralyzed man, carried by four men. As they were unable to approach him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof above him, made an opening, and lowered the stretcher on which the paralyzed man was lying. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My child, your sins are forgiven."
Now there were some scribes sitting there, reasoning within themselves, "Why does this one speak like that? He blasphemes. Who then can forgive sins but God alone?" Immediately perceiving in his mind the reasonings they were making, Jesus said to them, "Why do you hold such reasonings? Which is easier? To say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven', or to say to him, 'Get up, take your stretcher and walk'? Well! So that you know that the Son of Man has the authority to forgive sins on earth... - Jesus addressed the paralyzed man - I tell you, get up, take your stretcher, and go home." He got up, immediately took his stretcher and went out in front of everyone. They were all amazed and gave glory to God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
Luke 5:17-26
One day when Jesus was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law in the audience, from all the villages of Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was at work to make him perform healings.
People arrived, carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they sought to bring him in to place him before Jesus. But, not seeing how to do this because of the crowd, they climbed up onto the roof and, pushing aside the tiles, lowered him and his stretcher right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." The scribes and Pharisees began to reason: "Who is this man? He speaks blasphemies! Who then can forgive sins, if not God alone?" But Jesus, catching their thoughts, answered them, "Why these thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier? To say, 'Your sins are forgiven you', or to say, 'Get up and walk'? Well! That you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, - Jesus addressed the one who was paralyzed - I tell you, get up, take your stretcher and go back to your house."
Immediately the paralyzed man stood up in front of them, took up his bed and went home, giving glory to God. They were all amazed and gave glory to God. Filled with fear, they said, "We have seen extraordinary things today!"