Mark 2:1-12 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man 2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 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!”
Saturday - February 13
What is the heart of this passage? Hint: NOT physical healing. We live in a world that generally believes in “cause and effect.” If someone is physically ill we try to find the root cause. Even today, many people believe that physical illness is a “punishment” by God for a sin that someone committed. It is true that sin causes negative results. The sin of drunk driving causes accidents. The sin of gossip causes destroyed relationships. So, did that mean that the paralyzed man did something to deserve his illness? Jesus goes straight to the root cause: sin which causes separation from God. Jesus forgives and restores our relationship! You are a beloved child of God.
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