The man answered,
"Yes, Lord, I believe."
The blind man had found his Messiah.
Then there was a man who was paralyzed so that he could not move. His friends wanted to bring him to Jesus, but there were so many people standing around the house where Jesus was teaching that they could not get near him. But somehow or other they must get the sick man there.
Like many of the houses in Palestine, this house had a flat roof, with a stairway leading up to it. They placed their friend on a mat, carried him up the stairs, and cut a hole in the roof. After fastening a rope to each corner of the mat, they gently lowered it to the floor, right at Jesus' feet.
Jesus was glad when he saw the faith they had in him. He looked at the helpless man, and said,
"Man, your sins are forgiven you."
There were scribes and Pharisees standing there, waiting, as usual, to find fault with Jesus. They began to talk among themselves. They said:
"Who is this who is talking as if he were God? Such blasphemy! Who can forgive sins, except God himself?"