Again and again the bearers of the paralytic tried to push their way through the crowd, but in vain. The sick man looked about him in unutterable anguish. When the longed-for help was so near, how could he relinquish hope? At his suggestion his friends bore him to the top of the house and, breaking up the roof, let him down at the feet of Jesus. The discourse was interrupted. The Saviour looked upon the mournful countenance, and saw the pleading eyes fixed upon Him. He understood the case; He had drawn to Himself that perplexed and doubting spirit. While the paralytic was yet at home, the Saviour had brought conviction to his conscience. When he repented of his sins, and believed in the power of Jesus to make him whole, the life-giving mercies of the Saviour had first blessed his longing heart. Jesus had watched the first glimmer of faith grow into a belief that He was the sinner's only helper, and had seen it grow stronger with every effort to come into His presence.

Atter og atter forsøgte de, som bar den lamme, at bane sig vej gennem folkeskaren, men forgæves. Den syge så sig om i usigelig ængstelse. Når den længselsfuldt ventede hjælp var så nær, hvordan skulle han så kunne opgive håbet? Efter hans forslag bar vennerne ham op på husets tag, og efter at have brudt et hul i loftet firede de ham ned lige ved Jesu fødder. Talen blev afbrudt. Frelseren betragtede det sorgfulde ansigt og så det bønfaldende blik, der var rettet imod ham. Han forstod straks det hele; han havde draget denne forvildede og tvivlende sjæl til sig. Medens den lamme endnu befandt sig i sit hjem, havde Frelseren virket overbevisende på hans samvittighed. Da han angrede sine synder og troede på Jesu magt til at gøre ham sund, havde Frelserens livgivende nåde første gang velsignet hans længselsfulde hjerte. Jesus havde set det første glimt af tro vokse til en tillid til, at han var den eneste, der kunne hjælpe synderen, og han havde set den vokse sig stærkere ved hver bestræbelse for at komme ham nær.