Four of those who came were carrying a man who could not walk. But they could not get him close to Jesus because of the crowd. So they made a hole in the roof above Jesus. Then they lowered the man through it on a mat.

  Jesus saw their faith. So he said to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

 Some teachers of the law were sitting there. They were thinking, "Why is this fellow talking like that? He's saying a very evil thing! Only God can forgive sins!"

  Right away Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?  Is it easier to say to this man, 'Your sins are forgiven'? Or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?  I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins."

   Then Jesus spoke to the man who could not walk.  "I tell you," he said, "get up. Take your mat and go home."

 The man got up and took his mat. Then he walked away while everyone watched. All the people were amazed. They praised God and said, "We have never seen anything like this!"