• Calloused Hearts (Hard-ly Hearted)
• Almost Deaf Ears (Hardly Hearing)
• Closed Eyes (Hardly Seeing)

‘For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.  Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ (cf. Isaiah 6:9-10) 

Seeing + Hearing + Understanding = Turning + Healing

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• Get Up — he got up
• Take Your Mat — he took his mat
• Walk (Go Home) — he walked out for all to see

Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? [...] “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”  He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all.

The Paralytic Put Jesus’ Powerful Words into Easy Action

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The Authority Spoke

• Get Up!
• Take Your Mat!
• Go Home!

The Paralyzed Man Responded

• He Stood Up (for All to See)
• He Took Up (His “Disabili-Bed”)
• He Took Off (Went Home Praising God)

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.

Because of the Power Jesus Held, the Man was Made Able to Take Hold of the Bed that had Held Him.

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Simon

• No Water/Towel for Foot-Washing
• No Kiss of Traditional/Formal Greeting
• No Oil of Welcome/Generosity

The Woman

• Wet/Wipe Feet with Her Tears/Hair
• Humble, Submissive, Grateful Kissing of Feet
• Valuable Oil “Wasted” as Perfume for Jesus’ Feet

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.  Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

The Smallest Expressions of Pride and Selfishness Create the Biggest Needs for Teaching and Forgiveness

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• Set Out for Home
• Go Back to His Father
• Speak to His Father

The Prodigal Had a Carefully Planned Speech

• I Have Sinned
• I Am No Longer Worthy
• Make Me (Like) a Servant

The Father Had Other Plans for His Son

• Saw Him (with Compassion)
• Ran to Him
• Hugged Him
• Kissed Him

The Father Had Other Things to Say about Three Fashion Statements (and One Part of a Feast Menu)

• A Robe
• A Ring
• Sandals
• A Fattened Calf

I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’  So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. [...] “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.

The Son’s Supplication Turned into a Celebration

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