There was no room. There simply was no room. Jesus was teaching in a house in Galilee.
He was healing sick people too, and the house was full to bursting.
Oh, shouted one man, get off my foot. Sorry, said the man squeezed next to him.
Sammy, called a woman, where are you? Here mum, he called back, behind the man with the big bottom.
Some of the people were the religious leaders, Pharisees and teachers of the law.
They had come from all over the land to see what Jesus was up to.
Outside, there were four men with their friend, called Roche, who could not walk.
They were carrying him on a mat, and they were desperate to get him in front of Jesus.
I can't believe how many people are in one house.
We couldn't even get Roche through the door.
So how are we going to get him in the house?
Oh, I know. We could set some chickens loose inside the house.
What good would that do?
They would make such a big racket that people would rush out.
That's the worst idea I've ever heard.
Let's take some tiles off the roof, get some rope and lower Roche in.
Oh, that's just damn right. Crazy.
Wait, it could work. Has anyone got any rope?
A rope? Fabulous. Come on. There must be rope here somewhere.
Letting Roche through a hole in the roof. That sounds like a crazy plan.
If Roche's friends can get into Jesus, I'm sure Jesus will heal him.
Roche has amazing friends. Not everyone would go that far to help a friend.
Oh, a handy washing line. I wonder where it will take us.
Every time we meet Jesus, I'm astonished by what he does. I wonder what he's going to do this time.
The fourth friends made a hole in the roof.
When it was finished, the four men lowered their friend into the room in front of Jesus.
Careful now. Keep him level. Nearly there.
What's going on?
Jesus was impressed at their faith in him.
What faith these people have? My friend, your sins are forgiven.
What? His sins are forgiven?
That's outrageous. Only God can forgive sins.
Jesus thinks he's God. That's an insult to God himself.
Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he turned to them and said,
Why are your hearts filled with such thoughts?
What is easier, to forgive sins or to heal?
A man whispered to his wife, I think they're both pretty hard to do.
That's more or less the point, dear, his wife whispered back.
To prove to you that I have God's power and authority to do the thing you can't see, I'll do the thing you can.
So, get up, pick up your mat and walk home.
And the man did. Right away. Just like that. He stood up.
What? What just happened?
Jesus has gone too far.
What a miracle.
Did Jesus say Ross's sins were forgiven before he healed him?
Maybe it means that Jesus really is sent by God.
I can't get my head round this. Ross has been forgiven and healed.
I still think the chicken idea would have worked though. Why are we still holding these ropes?
The man said to his wife, So, if Jesus healed the man,
then maybe he really can forgive the bad things that people do.
That's more or less the point, dear, his wife replied. Praise God.
I knew Jesus would heal, Ross, but Jesus forgave all the wrong things he'd done as well.
And he did that first. I wonder which was the more important thing.
