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“And again He [Jesus] entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." (Mark 2.1-5). The fours which we will discuss are: 1) The four men who carried the paralytic, 2) False Reasoning, 3) True Reasoning, and 4) Seeing something like you’ve never seen before.

The Four Men Who Carried the Paralytic

Matthew records the same event as Mark except he adds some details that Mark saw fit to omit. Citing Matthew, “When Jesus saw their faith [the four men who carried the paralytic], He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.’” (Matthew 9.2b; emphasis mine, jb). It is significant that the faith that Jesus commended was a visible faith. In fact, it should be noted that Jesus did not see the faith of the men as much as He saw the result of faith! This statement is similar to one we make oft times when a sudden storm approaches; we might say, “Just look how that wind is blowing!” All the while we know perfectly well that one cannot see the wind, but we can see the effects of the wind. Jesus saw the effects of their faith.

Allow me to observe that a working faith is the only type of faith that God recognizes. James wrote a short treatise on this matter; it will be quoted in its entirety here. “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2.14-26).

Faith can exist with out works; James says as much in the last phrase of the passage quoted (above). However, that faith, the faith that exists without works, is dead faith. Dead faith does not justify; dead faith does not save. Earlier in the passage from James, he asked two rhetorical questions; they are: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith [without works] save him?” Jesus saw the faith of the four men; so did others if they were looking. Our faith, in order to save, must be a visible, working faith! Eternity depends upon it!

Questions:

1. What did Jesus see that prompted Matthew to write that He saw the faith of the four men?

2. Can others see our faith today? If yes, how?

3. Can faith exist apart from works (see James 2.26)? If yes, what kind of faith is it? Can that “type” of faith save?

4. Who profited from the faith of the four men? Can we profit from it? Why of why not?

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Moralism