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Mark 2:4-6, 10-12 Since they could not get the paralyzed man to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” … 10 “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” he said to the paralytic, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone, and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
DO you think the paralyzed man was passionate to get to Jesus, so Jesus would forgive his sins? It’s more likely the group broke through the roof because they had faith Jesus would heal the man’s legs. Because of Jesus’s surprising grace to forgive his sins, the man looking to walk on earth now walks with Jesus in eternity. How passionate are we to receive Jesus’ forgiveness? Isn’t this the first thing we should seek each day? Do we even believe Jesus forgives? If we stop to consider past sins, fear may paralyze our walk with Jesus. Perhaps we will wonder, “Am I forgiven? Is it possible Jesus would want such a sinner as I to follow him?” The Bible tells us he does want to forgive you, and he will forgive as you confess: 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. John knew this is true because he had witnessed Jesus begin the New Covenant of grace with these words: Matthew 26:28 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Then he watched Jesus’ blood pour out on the cross. John learned sin’s cost and the Lord’s passion to pay the cost. But we note the forgiven, healed man did not confess his sins. Does this negate God’s requirement to confess? On the contrary, Jesus’ forgiveness here proves confession leads to forgiveness. Jesus healed the man’s body to prove he had the power to heal the man’s heart. When he said, “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” he is telling the ruling Jews and all present three essential truths: When he identifies himself at Son of Man, he is saying, “I am God.” He then says God has come to earth. Third, he proclaims his authority to forgive sins. To prove this eternal truth, he spoke once more to the crippled man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” The author of life spoke, and life changed for the faithful that day. Faith is essential, isn’t it? The Holy Spirit stirred in the crippled man and his friends a faith to break through a roof, so he could be in Jesus’ presence. He arrived crippled at Jesus’ feet captured in sin’s brokenness, and he walked away free in salvation’s wholeness. This man and many others throughout Judea became an example of God’s forgiving power. If he can change the physical body, he can change the spiritual soul. Trust your heart to Jesus’ forgiveness. You will know, therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2) Comments are closed.
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AuthorBob James Archives
January 2025
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