There came noise from the roof.

Feet pounding on clay shingles. Many feet. Scratches. Blows. Several men were trying to break through the roof of Peter's home. Abishag was instantly on her feet announcing to all who would listen. Dust and debris fell from the ceiling as shingles and stones were removed.

"What are you doing to my roof!?" Peter protested loudly, but to no avail. A break in the ceiling grew into a shaped opening. The men worked with determination and soon they had created a gaping hole about four feet square. Peter tried to go outside, to make his way through the crowd in order to stop the destruction of his roof, but the press was too great. He could only stand helplessly and watch. As he watched, four men swung a large, weighted blanket to the opening. Attached to its four corners were ropes and in this contraption lay a human form. Slowly, they lowered the person to the floor so that it became clear that a severely paralyzed man lay on the blanket before Jesus, debris and dust falling about.

The man's body lay absolutely motionless. He seemed a compilation of flesh and tissue rather than a man, his arms and legs contractured, yet flaccid. His head rolled from one side to the other. He could not close his mouth. One could see the wetness on his clothing directly beneath his chin where, it seemed, drooling was constant. His body deformed and misshapen. His chest heaved in jerks. Eyes glazed, unaware of the crowd. Unaware of Jesus.

The men who had lowered him looked down through the opening above. "Heal him, Master," one of them cried, his voice choked. "We know you can do it. He is our brother, his mother's youngest of five sons." What Jesus saw in the eyes of these men moved him deeply. Their belief in him, their determination, their faith could not be ignored. He said, therefore, to this travesty, to this burlesque of a man on the floor, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."

The words were spoken only to the sick man but loud enough for all, and especially Asher, sitting close by, to hear. "What?" he whispered with alarm to a colleague, "He blasphemes! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

The eyes of Jesus shifted slowly from the man on the floor until he had fixed the disciple of Shammai with his gaze. "You entertain evil thoughts, Asher. Which is easier to say to this poor man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?" The Rabbi's mouth opened as if to answer, but words would not come. The possibility of such a pathetic creature actually walking did not exist. Jesus continued, his gaze forcing its way into Asher's soul. "So that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," Jesus turned and spoke to the deformed tissue on the floor, "Get up on your feet, sir. Take your mat and return to your family who loves you."

As Asher and those who stood close by watched, flaccid muscles immediately began to take on tone. The man's mouth that was frozen open, closed. His head ceased lolling back and forth. The expression on his face evolved from blank, inert, semi-consciousness, to awareness and intelligence. Joy and awe flooded his countenance. For the first time in the years since his strength had vanished, it returned. He sat up, and while others gasped, he stood, breathing evenly. He examined his body and extended his arms. He looked at Jesus in wonder. He looked out at the crowd and his mouth broke into a hesitant smile. He tried to laugh. Surprised that he could, he laughed softly. It came easily and comfortably to him. "L-L-Look," he cried shakily. "I-I am whole!" He breathed as if he couldn't catch his breath, and then he shouted in increasing decibels, "Ah! AH!" He exclaimed, "Yes! I am healed! Praise be to God almighty!" He fell first at Jesus' feet in gratitude.

"Go, my son," spoke the Son of God, "This is your day. Your hour."

The man took his blanket, gathered the ropes about him, and made his way slowly, to the door. More than once he stopped to look back at Jesus. Receiving an encouraging smile, he turned to go. The crowd parted to let him through. The man who had been paralyzed for most of his life got up and went home, his sins forgiven to the bone.

Some said with amazement, "We have seen remarkable things today," and some felt excited joy that God would give such ability and such authority to a man.

Asher and his friends could only stare--as if this man's paralysis now clung to them.