One of my absolute favorite parts of the Bible is Luke 5. When I was feeling ultra homesick a few weeks ago I sat down in the sun and opened Luke 5 and felt like I was at home again - it's comfortable, it's familiar and it's fresh and new every time I read it.

within the world of Luke 5 I particularly enjoy the story where Jesus heals a paralytic. It goes like this:

"On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said "Man, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question saying "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier to say, 'your sins are forgiven' or to say 'rise and walk'? But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he said to the man who was paralyzed - "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home." And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe saying, "We have seen extraordinary things today""

There's a great rendering of this story carved into the wall of a church in Capernaum - the city that served as Jesus' surrogate home on the Galilee. The church supposably marks the spot of the house of the Apostle Peter. We can't say for sure one way or another, but it's a nice spot either way.

I sat in front of this piece of art for a while and was seized with amazement upon recalling this story. From the way the friends loved the paralyzed man and did all they could to put him literally at the feet of Jesus. The wicked pharisees who were more concerned with the law and their tradition than the miracle before them. The man who got up and walked away changed forever. And the people who saw extraordinary things and were seized with amazement.

Even here in this holy land it is easy to forget the extraordinary love of Jesus. We are paralyzed in need of his healing. We are sinners in need of his forgiveness.

It's hard to put faith to words and i know that i am struggling to express the depth of significance of this story and of this salvation but also the sweet simplicity of His love. Look at the picture for a while. I feel thankful for those friends and thankful that God lets be one of them to sweet paralyzed sinners.