PER064

The fame of Jesus the Messiah spreads throughout Galilee

The article discusses Jesus' growing popularity in Galilee, heightened by his declaration that he forgives a paralysed man's sins, thus affirming his divinity and provoking tensions with the religious authorities.

3 min Jesus Galilee Capernaum divinity Pharisees 2 verses 2 books

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Biblical texts

Matthew

Matthew (King James Version) not cited in the book

Mark

Mark 1.45 (King James Version)

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Luke

Luke 5.15-16 (King James Version)

But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

John

John (King James Version) not cited in the book

Technical details

Location: In the town of Capernaum

Date: Shortly before the Passover festival on Monday, March 24, AD 31, and their return from Jerusalem around April 5, AD 31

Approach: We follow Mark's chronology

Note on the approach: Matthew confirms this account

What we have here is more than another extraordinary healing: it is an affirmation of the divinity of Jesus the Messiah.

The fame of Jesus the Messiah spreads throughout Galilee

Comments

We follow Mark's chronology. His expression, ‘A few days later, Jesus returned to Capernaum’, means that, after healing the man with leprosy, he returned to Capernaum. Matthew specifies that he crossed the by boat, suggesting that he must have been a few kilometres from his town.

He may have crossed one or more coves of this sea. Travelling by boat spared him being jostled by the crowd.

In a house in Capernaum, he debates with experts in the law; Luke adds the . His arrival has not gone unnoticed, and people flock there, all eager to see this new Teacher.

A paralysed man, carried by four men according to Mark, cannot get through the crowd and is taken up onto the house's flat roof. They make an opening and use ropes to lower the unfortunate man into the middle of the room.

This unforgettable scene highlights a point beyond the man's healing. ‘My friend, your sins are forgiven.’ This expression seems blasphemous, since God alone possesses this power. The experts in the law understand the difficulty of the situation.

The gulf continues to widen between Jesus the Messiah and these unbelieving religious men. The reasoning in this account, cited by the three Synoptic authors, inevitably demonstrates his divinity.

That is the message! We are witnessing more than another healing: this is an affirmation of the divinity of Jesus the Messiah.

La renommée du Messie Jésus se repend en Galilée. L'article discute de la montée en popularité de Jésus en Galilée, accentuée par sa déclaration de pardonner les péchés à un paralytique, affirmant ainsi sa divinité et provoquant des tensions avec les autorités religieuses. Commentaires. Nous suivons la chronologie de Marc. Son expression : « Quelques jours après, Jésus revint à Capernaüm », signifie que, après la guérison de l’homme lépreux, il est revenu à Capernaüm. Matthieu précise qu’il a traversé la mer de Galilée en barque, ce qui suggère qu’il devait se trouver à quelques kilomètres de sa ville. Il a peut-être traversé une ou plusieurs criques de cette mer. Le déplacement en barque lui évitait la bousculade avec la foule. À Capernaüm, dans une maison, il débat avec des spécialistes de la loi ; Luc ajoute des pharisiens. Son arrivée n’est pas passée inaperçue, et les gens affluent, tous désireux de voir ce nouveau Maître. Un paralytique, porté par quatre hommes selon Marc, ne pouvant traverser la foule, monte sur le toit-terrasse de la maison. Ils pratiquent une ouverture et, à l’aide de cordes, descendent le malheureux au milieu de la pièce. La scène inoubliable met en évidence un autre point que la guérison de l’homme. « Mon ami, tes péchés te sont pardonnés. » Cette expression apparaît blasphématoire, car Dieu seul possède ce pouvoir. Les spécialistes de la loi comprennent la difficulté de la situation. Le fossé continue de se creuser entre le Messie Jésus et ces hommes religieux incrédules. L’argumentation de ce récit, cité par les trois auteurs des synoptiques, démontre inévitablement sa divinité. Le message est bien là ! Nous ne sommes pas face à une guérison de plus, mais à l’affirmation de la divinité du Messie Jésus.