BACKGROUND MATERIAL

When Christ began his ministry of preaching and healing, his fame spread, until he was well known throughout a large area. He intended to make clear the message of repentance and salvation from sin, but the news of his astounding miracles was something people immediately grasped, and they spread the information everywhere. As a result, throngs sought Jesus in order to have him cure the victims of ill health within their family circle. To avoid huge crowds, Jesus would sometimes go out into the wilderness, but even there masses of people followed.

In this miracle, Jesus had returned to Capernaum, and it was not long before news spread about his being there preaching. Quickly so great a mass of people assembled that the house where he was conducting a service was jammed…