Jesus Heals the Paralytic
Most people are familiar with the account of the healing of the paralyzed man whose friends, unable to reach Jesus through the crowd, climbed up on the roof, made a hole and lowered their patient directly in front of Jesus. Matthew, however, moved the scene to the outdoors, and for artistic reasons only the artist has chosen this version for our window.
Jesus healed the paralytic because of the faith of his friends. But then the story takes an unexpectant turn and becomes a vehicle for the author to have Jesus state that he has been given power to forgive sins. "Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'? [I chose the former] so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins." The crowds ... were filled with awe, and gave praise to God, who had given such authority to humans. [Matthew 9:5-8]