Spiritual Paralytics

The fame of Jesus spread throughout the Galilee region after He preached in that synagogue. Near Capernaum, He delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Just a few miles from the city, He healed the woman with the issue of blood and performed countless miracles. Capernaum became the center of attention, especially since Jesus decided to live there. When news spread that He was back home, the crowds rushed to see Him again (Mark 2:1). Among them, four men carried a paralyzed man (Mark 2:1-12).

Throughout His ministry, Jesus healed countless people who came to Him—blind, deaf, demon-possessed, leprous, and suffering from all kinds of diseases. Many made long journeys to encounter the One they had heard about. However, the paralyzed men presented a unique challenge.

A paralyzed person could not move on their own. In those days, there were no wheelchairs, meaning they could not travel to Jesus independently. They would never be healed unless someone cared enough to make the effort to bring them to Jesus. Unlike other sick individuals who needed faith to walk to Jesus, the paralytics required others to have faith on their behalf and act in their favor!

Similarly, the world is filled with spiritual paralytics, incapable of reaching Christ on their own. Salvation will remain unreachable unless someone leads them to Jesus. We cannot deceive ourselves—if these people are not brought to Christ, they will perish in their sins and face eternity separated from God. An authentic disciple can’t be indifferent to this reality. Jesus had compassion for the lost, and we must have it, too (Matthew 9:36).

Perhaps the apathy found in many Christians today concerning the lost stems from the mistaken belief that God would not condemn someone who is morally good. However, this notion is far from what the Word of God teaches us. The Bible warns, “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). It clearly states that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Our nature is not virtuous, and our concept of a “good person” is in itself distorted by sin’s influence on our minds. Our perception of reality has been corrupted, and we must humbly acknowledge that we are not good. Only God is good and can transform us into good people.

It is essential to understand that humanity is separated from God by its sins, and the only solution to this separation is to believe in Jesus Christ with all our hearts.

There are no shortcuts to heaven. Jesus said He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), and we must recognize this when considering spiritual paralytics. Jesus declared that anyone who does not believe in Him “stands condemned already” (John 3:18). Without faith in Christ, there is no salvation, deliverance, blessing, or freedom because there is no other way to the Father. Jesus was not ecumenical; He did not accept any form of faith other than exclusive trust in Him.

This does not mean God is selfish or unjust in requiring faith in Christ for eternal life. The notion that God is selfish ignores the complete revelation of His love, mercy, and patience toward sinners. Christ’s coming was for salvation, not condemnation, for our sins already condemned us (John 3:17-18). His coming was an act of love (John 3:16).

Without Christ, there is no salvation because He is the foundation of existence, the source and sustainer of reality, the author of life, and the embodiment of truth. To be disconnected from Him is to be disconnected from life itself—it is to live in death, to move toward nonexistence. Thus, the wage (consequence) of sin (separation from God) is death, but the gift of God (unmerited grace) is eternal life (relationship with the source of life) in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23).

Nicodemus, a religious leader who appeared righteous and avoided obvious sins, was told by Jesus that unless he was born again, he could not enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). Likewise, Cornelius, a Roman centurion who honored God with prayers, fasting, and charity, was not saved by his good works. When an angel appeared to him, it did not guarantee salvation based on Cornelius’ deeds. Instead, the angel instructed him to find Peter so that he could hear the gospel (Acts 10:1-5). Both Nicodemus and Cornelius, despite their religious knowledge and devotion, were sinners in need of salvation through Christ.

In our pluralistic society, proclaiming Jesus as the only way to salvation has become offensive. Declaring that Christ alone is God and the Bible is the sole divine revelation is a dangerous thing to do. Yet, when we strip the gospel of its offense, we alter its meaning and turn it into something else. We attempt to tame the Lion of Judah, making Him harmless to a relativistic age. The true gospel is an untamable flame—foolishness to some and a scandal to others (1 Corinthians 1:18). But to those who open their hearts, heed the call, and submit to Christ’s lordship, the gospel brings life. It breathes eternal life into the soul and ignites an overwhelming passion for God and His will.

Proclaiming Christ amid a whirlwind of competing beliefs requires courage and prophetic passion. That same unwavering courage that burned in Elijah’s heart when he stood boldly against the prophets of Baal. Only what is true can withstand the test of fire. And it was in Elijah’s fervent prayer to the Living God, that the heavens opened, fire fell, and an entire nation bowed in worship.

The world longs for men and women wholly dedicated to the gospel, fearless, empowered by the Spirit, profoundly humble, overflowing with love, and clothed with authority from above. People who, like Elijah, confront the darkness head-on, determined to bring spiritual paralytics to God. Living flames in a cold and dark world.

Without the gospel, there is no salvation. Even the most devout religious person will not find redemption apart from faith in Jesus. Salvation cannot be bought through good deeds or earned by personal merit (Ephesians 2:8). Without Christ, religious belief is hollow. Trusting in Buddha, Muhammad, Hindu deities, or a deified universe is a futile faith—born from human imagination or demonic influence. Whether it is a solitary hermit on a mountaintop or a prisoner in a dark cell, all are equally condemned under sin. We all bear the weight of our flawed humanity and deserve the consequences of sin. But Christ’s grace can burst like a beam of light, bringing life to the dead (Romans 6:23). Only Jesus, with His sacrificial love, can revive and transform the human soul—and nothing else can.

Reflection Questions:

1. How can the church effectively help those who are “spiritual paralytics”?

2. Who are the spiritual paralytics around you?

3. How can the church reach spiritual paralytics in distant places? What is your church doing about it?

4. What are the dangers of complacency or indifference toward the lost, both near and far?

5. Do you know someone who believes people can be saved simply by being good? How can you address this misconception?

6. How are you and your church sharing the gospel in a pluralistic society?

Eli Maga