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““Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you’, or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he said to the man who was paralysed – “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.”

(Luke 5:22b-25)

In Luke chapters 5 to 8 we see Jesus at the height of His powers: strong, without fault, and compassionate: yet this is the one they crucified. In these chapters we see also see the gathering religious storm that killed Him. We also thought about what might be called a rhythm of both the Bible and the season of Lent: being humbled before being lifted up. Jesus was brought very low indeed before He was lifted up: to death, and you can’t get lower than that. But Jesus rose on high; and He’s alive and present by the Holy Spirit. He is God through whom all things were made, and to prove it, He raised the paralysed man and a Roman centurion intuitively called him “Lord”. So should we, and receive Him as Lord.