The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Mark 2:9-12a,
"Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . . He said to the paralytic, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.' He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all."
As Jesus Christ carried out his earthly ministry proclaiming the advent of the kingdom of God, he performed a number of miracles. Here in this passage, Jesus addressed the greatest need we all have through this paralytic. Seeing the faith of the man and his companions he told him, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
Those present who lacked the faith of the paralytic and his companions took offense. How can anyone forgive sins but God alone? When we sin, we sin against God. It is for God to forgive sins - they were unable to recognize that God was right there within their midst!
In Isaiah we read that there was nothing about Jesus' appearance that would indicate he was anything other than just another man, "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." Isaiah 53:2.
But as we read in Mark's account, Jesus has already healed many by this time and cast out evil spirits. With our 20/20 hindsight we might even think folks should have had a clue just from the things Jesus said, "The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law." Mark 1:22. In spite of all this, from what I can't help but view as another act of compassion for those struggling with faith, he provides validation for his forgiving of sins: he heals the paralytic! If Jesus Christ can nullify the ultimate consequence of original sin in the Garden of Eden – sickness, disease and infirmity – he certainly has authority to forgive the sins of anyone!
I thank God Jesus Christ took compassion on all like me who might struggle with faith, and has accommodated us with so much revelation of himself, and the documentation of what he said and did, all that has been preserved for us in the pages of Scripture!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . . He said to the paralytic, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.' He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all."
As Jesus Christ carried out his earthly ministry proclaiming the advent of the kingdom of God, he performed a number of miracles. Here in this passage, Jesus addressed the greatest need we all have through this paralytic. Seeing the faith of the man and his companions he told him, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
Those present who lacked the faith of the paralytic and his companions took offense. How can anyone forgive sins but God alone? When we sin, we sin against God. It is for God to forgive sins - they were unable to recognize that God was right there within their midst!
In Isaiah we read that there was nothing about Jesus' appearance that would indicate he was anything other than just another man, "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." Isaiah 53:2.
But as we read in Mark's account, Jesus has already healed many by this time and cast out evil spirits. With our 20/20 hindsight we might even think folks should have had a clue just from the things Jesus said, "The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law." Mark 1:22. In spite of all this, from what I can't help but view as another act of compassion for those struggling with faith, he provides validation for his forgiving of sins: he heals the paralytic! If Jesus Christ can nullify the ultimate consequence of original sin in the Garden of Eden – sickness, disease and infirmity – he certainly has authority to forgive the sins of anyone!
I thank God Jesus Christ took compassion on all like me who might struggle with faith, and has accommodated us with so much revelation of himself, and the documentation of what he said and did, all that has been preserved for us in the pages of Scripture!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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