The example of the paralytic sufficiently reveals that God wanted this paralyzed man to do everything he was capable of first, so that He may subsequently grant him forgiveness of sins and physical health. If you search the Holy Scriptures, you will find numerous examples confirming this very same thing.
Amongst the many examples, however, one substantiates the truth of the matter so clearly, that it completely convinces man and casts away even the slightest doubt from his mind. When the ruler Festus handed over the Apostle Paul as a prisoner unto Julius the centurion, in order to be taken securely from Caessaria to Rome to stand trial before Caesar, a storm developed at sea. Such a dark and turbulent tempest arose that everyone on the ship lost hope and ate nothing for several days.
At that time, the Apostle Paul stood up before everyone, encouraging and advising them that none of them would drown at sea: "And now I exhort you to be of good cheer. For there shall be no loss of any man's life from among you, except for the ship" (Acts 27:22) .
The divine apostle affirmed his words by testifying that an angel of God appeared to him that night and revealed to him that he would stand before Caesar, and that God granted him everyone sailing on the ship with him: "For there stood by me this night an angel of God, Whose I am, and Whom I serve, saying, 'Fear not, Paul. You must be brought before Caesar. And, lo, God has given you all the people who are sailing with you'" (Acts 27:23 - 24) .
This is why he urged everyone to take courage: "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer. For I believe God, that it shall be just as it has been told to me. We must be cast upon a certain island" (Acts 27:25 - 26) .
A few days later, the sailors discerned land in the distance, and desiring to save themselves from the danger, they lowered the life boats into the ocean inorder to leave the ship. When Paul saw realized what they were about to do, he immediately said to the centurion and his soldiers, "If they do not remain in the ship, you cannot be saved" (Acts 27:31) .
How strange indeed! God told the Apostle Paul that He would grant him every single passenger sailing with him, and He promised that not even one of them would be lost. The Apostle Paul believed God's promise: "I believe," he stated, "in God that this is how things will turn out, exactly in the manner they were said to me."
Not only did he believe in God's promise but he also proclaimed the Lord's pledge before everyone on the ship, who altogether were "two - hundred and seventy six souls" (Acts 27:37) . And yet, after all this he hinges the salvation of all those people not upon the things that God had said and promised but upon the help and aid of the sailors. He stated that if there was no help from the sailors, if the crew members flee and abandon the ship, it would not be possible for them to be saved: "If they do not remain in the ship, you cannot be saved" (Acts 27:31) .
Was the Almighty God in need of help from thirty or forty sailors in order for Him to keep everyone on that ship alive? It is both unreasonable and improper to make such a claim about God. Through this example, my brothers, God revealed to us nothing other than what He also communicated to us when He healed the paralytic: that He stretches out His almighty hand to help and save us only if we first carry out everything that we are capable of doing.
by Bishop Nikiforos Theotokis
http://www.stnektariosmonastery.org/
The God-man Jesus Christ observes and notices all things. He sees not only the things that are visible but also the things that are hidden —He even discerns the secret thoughts concealed within man's heart. If He was able to perceive what the Scribes were contemplating in their minds, then it was much easier for Him to detect what the people who were carrying the paralytic were up to. These people were holding the stretcher upon which the paralytic lay as they made their way to the entrance of the home wherein Jesus Christ was speaking.
Unable to enter the house through this or any other entrance (on account of the multitude of people that were gathered there) and bring the paralytic before the Lord Jesus Christ, they climbed up onto the roof.
"And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude,"says the divinely inspired Evangelist Luke, "they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus" (Lk. 5:19).
Unquestionably, ladders, ropes, and pieces of lumber were used, there was the sound of loud noise and banging, and many other things necessarily took place in order to lift the stretcher that held the paralytic up onto the roof. Who can doubt that Jesus Christ—Who detects and knows the hidden thoughts of man—both saw and heard all these things taking place? And yet, He remained silent. Eventually they climbed up onto the roof, they removed part of the house's covering and lowered the stretcher.
As this took place, even louder banging and yelling could be heard: commotion that inevitably is produced when people attempt to lower a heavy weight from a great height. Undoubtedly, Jesus Christ saw and heard everything; however, He remained silent. Only when He saw the paralytic lying on the stretcher before Him did He open His mouth and speak. Only then did He declare, "My child, your sins are forgiven" (Mk. 2:5), and in following, "Arise, and lift thy bed, and make your way to your home" (Mk. 2:11).
Was it not possible for Him Who knows everything and is capable of all things to have voiced these words when the people carrying the paralytic first arrived at the front door of the home, as soon as He saw that they were unable to enter the house, on account of the large crowd, despite their repeated attempts?
Jesus Christ observed not only everything the paralytic's companions were attempting to do, but He also was aware of these people's faith. Why then did He allow the paralytic to endure such a troublesome and tiring ordeal? Why did He make them who were carrying the paralytic go through such effort and only thereafter manifest His mercy and perform this amazing miracle?
This, my beloved Christians, serves as a holy lesson that is of much benefit for us both spiritually and physically. In this manner, the
God-man makes known to us that He comes to our aid in times of need and fulfills our requests only after we make an effort first and do everything that is in our power.
http://www.stnektariosmonastery.org/
We witness this truth with our very own eyes, and we perceive this reality with all our senses. Walk into any household. If the head of the house fears God and obeys the Lord's commandments, and if, in turn, the family members and servants obey the head of the house, within that home you will notice love and agreement bet ween the husband and wife; well - disciplined children being raised and instructed in a praiseworthy and correct manner; the servants eagerly and conscientiously carrying out their work; in brief, order and decorum predominating throughout the entire establishment.
If, however, the head of the house transgresses God's commandments, and if, likewise, his family and servants show no trace of obedience to him, in such a home you will find the couple disagreeing and quarreling; the children undisciplined and unruly; the servants completely indifferent and inadequately fulfilling their responsibilities; in brief, an utterly mismanaged and dysfunctional home.
Enter a church. If the presiding priest is a living example of obedience to God's commandments, and if, in turn, the parish members obediently listen to him as required, you will witness within such a community God's commandments and t he divine canons being followed; order reigning throughout the ecclesiastical services; sincere concern for the salvation of the people; and every good work and virtue shinning brightly. If, however, the presiding clergyman races along the road of disobedience to God's laws, while the members of the parish openly resist and are insubordinate to their shepherd, then in such a church there exists indifference and complete disregard for God's laws and the ecclesiastical canons; disorder during the church services; negligence and inattentiveness for the salvation of souls; and, in general, the darkness of every evil deed and sin.
Visit any city or municipality. If the governor obeys God, and the citizens obey their ruler, in such a municipality there is no oppression; justice prevails; love between people radiates like the sun; all the civil laws are observed; commerce, law enforcement, the armed forces, trades, and the educational system thrive; fortune and prosperity increase .
If, however, the governor or mayor disobey God, and if, in turn, the citizens refuse to obey their community leader, who can adequately describe the oppression, the injustice, the conflicts and disorder, the scandals and the lawlessness of that city? In such a region, the commodities are untrustworthy, the law enforcers resemble thieves, sailors hold company with pirates, the various trades decline, science and education begin to deteriorate.
In such a place all types of sin and misfortune prevail.
Therefore: Obedience! You are truly a great and magnificent virtue!
When you became absent, Heaven fell apart. When you departed, Paradise was closed. When you hid, man plunged into the abyss of misfortune.
When, on the contrary, you reign, kingdoms, cities, households, and people, in general, prosper; virtue and holiness exist within the churches. When people guard God's commandments they become His friends and sons, and they ascend to the glory from which they fell. Adam's disobedience rendered all men sinful; Christ's obedience rendered everyone who believes in Him and who obeys Him righteous and holy:
“For as by one man’s obedience many were made sinners, so also b y one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Rom. 5:19) .
http://www.stnektariosmonastery.org/weeklymessagesarchive/01_19_2015_Obedience%20is%20a%20Great%20Virtue%20%28Part%204%29.pdf
