Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

17 One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord's healing power was strongly with Jesus.
18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus,
19 but they couldn't reach him. So they went up to the roof, took off some tiles, and lowered the sick man down into the crowd, still on his mat, right in front of Jesus.
20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
        21 "Who does this man think he is?" the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to each other. "This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins?"
        22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you think this is blasphemy?
23 Is it easier to say, `Your sins are forgiven' or `Get up and walk'?
24 I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, take your mat, and go on home, because you are healed!"
        25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped to his feet, picked up his mat, and went home praising God.
26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe. And they praised God, saying over and over again, "We have seen amazing things today."