“Jesus Says, ‘Your Sins Are Forgiven!'”

“Jesus Says, ‘Your Sins Are Forgiven!'”
Our focus this week has been on God’s readiness and availability to forgive the sins of contrite and repentant hearts. We round up today with the story of a paralytic who was lowered through the roof of a house for Jesus to heal him. “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.'” The teachers of the law who were there considered the words of Jesus to be blasphemy because only God can forgive sins.
They were mistaken because Jesus and the Father are one. Jesus does not only have the power to forgive sins, he has the power to discern the thoughts of men. The teachers of the law were thinking to themselves, but “Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts…” He equally has the power to effect miraculous healings.
In Jewish theology only God can forgive sins and heal miraculously. Jesus proved to them that he had power to do both. He asked the man to pick up his mat and go home; which the man did (Mk.2:1-12).
Lessons learned:
The men who brought the paralytic were empathetic of his condition. They had to make a hole through the roof because they could not penetrate the thick crowd outside. Their action revealed their faith.
They were surely desperate for the man to be healed. However, for Jesus the man had a greater need than healing. He had to be forgiven of his sins. It is not as if sin had anything to do with his paralysis. Even people in good health stand in need of forgiveness.
Jesus did not wait for the man to ask for forgiveness; he forgave the man because of the faith of those who brought him.
My friend, surround yourself with people who can feel for you when you are in need because “a friend in need is a friend indeed!” Good friends will take you to where Jesus can forgive your sins and heal you!
Weekend prayer: Thank you Lord for forgiving and healing me of whatever handicap that has kept me away from you. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!