The Paralysed Man

Question 0

What is sin?

Answer 0

Disobeying God and separating oneself from Him

Question 1

What is a miracle?

Answer 1

An act of God which breaks the laws of physics

Question 2

What is faith?

Answer 2

Having an active trust in someone or in God

Question 3

What does Son of Man mean?

Answer 3

Jesus’ role as the one who would suffer for others

Question 4

What is blasphemy?

Answer 4

Speaking against God or making oneself equal to God

Question 5

What town was Jesus in when he healed the paralysed man?

Answer 5

Capernaum

Question 6

Why couldn’t the paralysed man’s four friends get near Jesus?

Answer 6

There were too many people in the house

Question 7

What did the four friends do to get the man to Jesus?

Answer 7

Dug a hole in the roof and lowered him down

Question 8

When Jesus saw their faith, what did he say to the paralysed man?

Answer 8

“Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Question 9

Why did the lawyers present criticise Jesus?

Answer 9

They said he was blaspheming as only God can forgive sins

Question 10

What did Jesus do to show that he, the Son of Man, did have authority to forgive sins?

Answer 10

Told the man to pick up his mat and walk

Question 11

How did the crowd react?

Answer 11

Everyone was amazed

Question 12

What did people tend to think about illness in the first century?

Answer 12

It was a punishment from God

Question 13

What was the punishment for blasphemy in Jewish law?

Answer 13

Death

Question 14

What aspects of the paralysed man did Jesus show concern for?

Answer 14

Both body and soul

Question 15

The people were amazed at the miracle but also… what?

Answer 15

The lawyers couldn’t think of an answer for Jesus

Question 16

Do healing miracles happen today? Argue FOR

Answer 16

Yes, because God is the same today as yesterday and there are many reported healings such as those at Lourdes that cannot be explained by medical science alone

Question 17

Do healing miracles happen today? Argue AGAINST

Answer 17

No, as there are always natural ways of explaining healings. Sometimes the mind can give people unusual inner strength. Also, many so-called miracles are only short term improvements

Question 18

Is it wrong for doctors to allow the very sick to die? Argue FOR

Answer 18

Yes, it’s wrong for them to ‘play God’. Instead, they should focus on relieving their pain and allowing them to die with dignity at God’s time. Dame Cicely Saunders set up the hospice movement with this aim

Question 19

Is it wrong for doctors to allow the very sick to die? Argue AGAINST

Answer 19

No, it’s not wrong because it’s cruel to make someone go through a lot of pain and disability. It would be more caring to let them end their lives when they want to do so with their family around them