We are impressed by the faith of the paralysed man and his friends who go to such lengths to reach Jesus. It is a measure of their faith and trust in Jesus which is the key to what happens next. In fact, the man is only hoping to find healing from his paralysis. He must have been somewhat surprised to hear Jesus say, "Your sins are forgiven". When the Scribes present are shocked by what they regard as blasphemy, Jesus underlines His divine power by telling the man to get up, take his bed and walk out of the house. Which the man, to the amazement of all present, proceeds to do. For those present, there was a close relationship between chronic sickness or disablement and sin. If the result of his sin is gone, so, too, must the sin be no more. The healing of his body clearly indicates the healing of his soul too. We, too, need that kind of wholeness which brings a deep harmony between our bodies and minds, between our external behaviour and our deepest convictions.