Mark 2:1-12
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him 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.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 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? 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. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
- How desperate are you for Jesus? The friends of the paralytic were desperate enough to find a way to Jesus.
- How certain are you of Jesus? The friends counted the cost and knew that destroying someone’s personal property was worth getting their friend to Jesus. They knew Jesus could help. Certainty raises the level of intensity in our relationship with Jesus, makes us more desperate to be with him because we know He is the answer.
- Why have you gathered by Jesus? Pharisees came to prove him wrong, came with suspicion. Others came with needs or in faith. Why have you come? Have you come just for a miracle and not to receive the words of life that He speaks?
- Are you amazed by Jesus? Philips, Craig, and Dean: Your Grace Still Amazes Me.
This is one of my favorite stories! One reason is that there was more than one friend in agreement bringing their friend to Jesus to be healed. Kinda reminds me when Two or three are gathered in My name there I am in the midst of them! The second thing I like is they must have been ready to give a reason for their hope, their belief that Jesus could and would heal their friend! So the must have been new believers! Nothing sweeter than the zeal, zest, faith of new believers thirdly I love the faith building message the story ends with Jesus healing that leaves you with the knowing that Jesus never fails! I just know he would have honored their faith and healed their friend even if some one stopped them and sent them away before they could finish tearing up the roof and lowering their friend down! Great story! Like your page thanks! Sent from my iPhone