The palsied man was entirely helpless, and, seeing no prospect of aid from any quarter, he had sunk into despair. Then he heard of the wonderful works of Jesus. He was told that others as sinful and helpless as he had been healed; even lepers had been cleansed. And the friends who reported these things encouraged him to believe that he too might be cured if he could be carried to Jesus. But his hope fell when he remembered how the disease had been brought upon him. He feared that the pure Physician would not tolerate him in His presence.

Denne lammede mand var fuldstændig hjælpeløs, og da han ikke øjnede mulighed for hjælp nogen steder, var han nedsunken i fortvivlelse. Så hørte han om Jesu undergerninger. Han fik at vide, at andre, som var lige så syndige som han selv, var blevet helbredt; selv spedalske var blevet renset. Og de venner, der fortalte dette, opmuntrede ham til at tro, at også han kunne blive rask igen, hvis han kunne blive bragt til Jesus. Men hans håb sank, da han huskede på, hvordan han havde pådraget sig denne sygdom. Han var bange for, at denne rene læge ikke ville tåle ham i sin nærhed.