Jesus Heals the Sick

²³ Jesus went throughout Galilee,^(A) teaching in their synagogues,^(B) proclaiming the good news^(C) of the kingdom,^(D) and healing every disease and sickness among the people.^{(E) 24} News about him spread all over Syria,^(F) and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed,^(G) those having seizures,^(H) and the paralyzed;^(I) and he healed them. ²⁵ Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,^[a] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.^(J)

² Some men brought to him a paralyzed man,^(A) lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith,^(B) he said to the man, “Take heart,^(C) son; your sins are forgiven.”^(D)

³ At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”^(E)

⁴ Knowing their thoughts,^(F) Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? ⁵ Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ⁶ But I want you to know that the Son of Man^(G) has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” ⁷ Then the man got up and went home.

³ Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man,^(A) carried by four of them. ⁴ Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”^(B)

⁶ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷ “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”^(C)

⁸ Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? ⁹ Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? ¹⁰ But I want you to know that the Son of Man^(D) has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, ¹¹ “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” ¹² He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God,^(E) saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”^(F)

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

¹⁴ Jesus returned to Galilee^(A) in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.^(B)

¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs^(A) through which he revealed his glory;^(B) and his disciples believed in him.^(C)

³¹ Still, many in the crowd believed in him.^(A) They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs^(B) than this man?”

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs^(A) in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.^{(B) 31} But these are written that you may believe^[a](C) that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,^(D) and that by believing you may have life in his name.^(E)

¹⁷ When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus,^(A) they were all seized with fear,^(B) and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

²² Jews demand signs^(A) and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified:^(B) a stumbling block^(C) to Jews and foolishness^(D) to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called,^(E) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God^(F) and the wisdom of God.^(G)