16
But he would go away to places where he could be alone for prayer.
17
One day when Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and experts in Moses' Teachings were present. They had come from every village in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. Jesus had the power of the Lord to heal.
18
Some men brought a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They tried to take him into the house and put him in front of Jesus.
19
But they could not find a way to get him into the house because of the crowd. So they went up on the roof. They made an opening in the tiles and let the man down on his stretcher among the people. (They lowered him in front of Jesus.)
20
When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Sir, your sins are forgiven."
21
The scribes and the Pharisees thought, "Who is this man? He's dishonoring God! Who besides God can forgive sins?"
22
Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, "What are you thinking?
23
Is it easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?
24
I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then he said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home."
25
The man immediately stood up in front of them and picked up the stretcher he had been lying on. Praising God, he went home.
26
Everyone was amazed and praised God. They were filled with awe and said, "We've seen things today we can hardly believe!"