International Sunday School Lesson April 7, 2024 Spring #6
Background
Today’s lesson discusses the period when the Lord’s earthly ministry was gaining popularity. He was teaching, casting out demons, raising the dead, and healing the sick. The religious leaders of the day were getting very jealous of Jesus because of his success.
Jesus Teaching
Luke 5:17 (ESV) 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.
The earthly ministry of the Lord was taking off. Jesus told the disciples of John the Baptist this regarding his ministry at this time, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” 1
Creative Entrance
Luke 5:18-19 (ESV) 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, 19 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.
The roofs of homes in the holy land were not like the roofs of modern day homes. These roofs were flat and did not having an attic. So, there was a straight connection from the roof to the inside of the house.
Sins Forgiven
Luke 5:20-21 (ESV) And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Jesus knew what was in the heart and mind of the folks around him. The apostle John writes, “But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.” 2
Rise and Walk
Luke 5:22-25 (ESV) When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that 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.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.
God knows every thought that crosses our minds. The psalmist writes, “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.” 3
Also, we should glorify God when His hand blesses us. The psalmist also wrote, “He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. 21 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!” 4
Amazement
Luke 5:26 (ESV) And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
We should do as these folks did when we see God work in the lives of others. They saw the great miracle that happened that day in the life of their friend and praised God in amazement. We should do the same. The church did the same thing when they saw the changed life of Saul of Tarsus. Paul wrote in Galatians, “They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.” 5
Concluding Thoughts
We should make all efforts to get our friends to Jesus. Think of the length these friends went to get their friend to Jesus. We should have that same dedication.
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