Dear Reader,
Today I will be sharing with you some truths learned from the story in Mark 2:1-12. I hope you are blessed.
Mark 2:1-12
(Emphasis on verses 5 & 11) - “1 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!””
This is the story of the paralyzed man
that Jesus healed as a result of the faith of his friends who let him down
through the roof the room where Jesus was teaching. Vs 5 & 11 stand out to
me most especially because of the weight of truth in them.
Truth 1: The first
thing Jesus did was to forgive the man’s sins when he was brought to him. Why? Why
didn’t Jesus deal with the visible issue that was staring everyone in the face?
(The paralysis) From this I learned that God values my spiritual health over
the physical and therefore He often deals with my spiritual needs before
attending to my physical needs. Not that He doesn’t value my physical health. He
does. But the salvation of my soul comes first. After all, this body will
perish.
Truth 2: My faith
moves God to work. Vs 5 states that it was when Jesus saw the faith of the
friends that He began His work in the paralyzed man’s life. faith, even as
little as a mustard seed is powerful. Faith moves God to work. FAITH TRIGGERS
OUR MIRACLES!
Truth 3: Jesus is
the only solution to the physical and spiritual needs of my friends, family and
myself. He alone has the power to heal and to forgive sin most importantly (vs
10). Doctors may try to meet health needs, other humans may try to meet
financial and other needs, but ONLY Jesus can solve the needs of the heart,
soul, and spirit.
Truth 4: Am I bringing
my friends and family to Jesus? The 4 men who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus
knew that his solution could only be found in and with Jesus Christ. And so,
they went to such great lengths (passing him through the roof) just so Jesus
Christ could minister to their friend. To what lengths have I gone to bring
others to Jesus? Have I even made an effort to bring them to Jesus? Will I have
souls to greet Him with on the last day? I must point others to Jesus for their
solutions and not to man. Jesus should be the first and last bus stop.
ONLY Jesus can restore
completely; physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and otherwise. He is
the most powerful being in heaven and earth. Hallelujah.
#selah
In Christ,
Shanpepe
