I love this story! So many good lessons ~
Mark 2:1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.
Mark 2:2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.
Mark 2:3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.
Mark 2:4 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.
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
Mark 2:6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
Mark 2:7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Mark 2:8 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?
Mark 2:9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?
Mark 2:10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the man,
Mark 2:11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."
Mark 2:12 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!"
Notice how in verse 5 it says, "When Jesus SAW their faith..." True FAITH has CORRESPONDING WORKS.
And then in the same verse Jesus said, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Jesus could read the paralyzed mans mind and He knew that being FORGIVEN was MORE IMPORTANT to the man than being HEALED. Here he was hopeless...about to die....if he could be FORGIVEN, he wouldn't care if he lived or died, knowing he was ready to meet God come Judgment Day.
Because of my line of work (I'm an Herbalist), I meet many sick people, and quite a number who are very sick and don't have alot of time on this earth left. The majority are very afraid to die. I believe that if we are right with God, we won't be afraid to die. We will accept LIFE or DEATH, whichever God deems best, as His will for us. Yes, we should do ALL on our part to live by eating right and making sure our lifestyle is in harmony with Biblical teachings...that is SHOWING OUR FAITH - FAITH IN ACTION....then we should trust God with the outcome. I believe that many are afraid to die, because they KNOW they are not ready to meet God.
Mark 2:1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.
Mark 2:2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.
Mark 2:3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.
Mark 2:4 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.
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
Mark 2:6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
Mark 2:7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Mark 2:8 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?
Mark 2:9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?
Mark 2:10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the man,
Mark 2:11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."
Mark 2:12 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!"
Notice how in verse 5 it says, "When Jesus SAW their faith..." True FAITH has CORRESPONDING WORKS.
And then in the same verse Jesus said, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Jesus could read the paralyzed mans mind and He knew that being FORGIVEN was MORE IMPORTANT to the man than being HEALED. Here he was hopeless...about to die....if he could be FORGIVEN, he wouldn't care if he lived or died, knowing he was ready to meet God come Judgment Day.
