The Multitudes Become Prophets

 The Gospel for today picks up where we left off last week—Jesus is back in the boat crossing the Sea of Galilee, returning to His home.

As has become the case with our Lord, people have come to seek Him out, for they’ve learned that benefits follow Him everywhere.  And so now they bring to Jesus a paralytic lying on a bed.  St. Mark details this event as the one in which these friends of the paralyzed man open the roof of the house where our Lord is preaching because they can’t get near enough because of the crowds.

And we know the story.  Jesus heals again with His word.  “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

And just as the sheep have gathered in their faith, the wolves are also gathered.  “This man blasphemes,” say those of the scribes who are present.

What is it that brings this miraculous healing?  Is it the faith of the one who is paralyzed?  We can’t say that this is not PART of the story.  But St. Matthew records, “When He saw THEIR faith…”  Who is it that is described by the word THEIR?  Since we’ve become focused on pronouns, let us be attentive.  THEIR is plural!  What is being referred to here is the faith of those friends who carried this poor unfortunate to come before Jesus.  It is THEY who have believed sufficiently to have THEIR faith rewarded.

The Study Bible reveals that three components of our Lord’s divinity are on display in this account. 

First, He knows the hearts of men (2Chron 6:30—Then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men)).

Second, He grants forgiveness of sins (Ps 103:12—As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us).

Third, He heals simply by the power of His word (Ps 107:20—He sent His Word and healed them).

St. Matthew ends today’s lesson by describing the crowds assembled.  Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, Who had given such power to men.

And herein lies the mentioned “prophecy”!

The crowds see Jesus as a “man”.  And they see in part rightly, for we Orthodox know Him simultaneously as both God AND Man!

But their vision is imperfect.  In this case it is not a “man” who has this power to heal by His word alone.  It is THE “Man”, the God-Man Who does this.

So why are the crowds words prophetic instead of just being “wrong”?

It is because our Lord promises His Apostles, Verily, verily I say to you, he that believes in Me, the works that I do shall he also do; and greater works than these shall He do; because I go to my Father.” (John 14:12)

And so from the very lips of our Lord we find the crowds words, although not by their choice intended to say so, but saying nonetheless that God gives such authority, such power, to men.  It has been proven through all generations of the Church!