Your Sins are Forgiven
Jesus had just started His ministry. He had called His disciples and taught them as they walked through the countryside. The fame of Jesus spread as He healed the sick, especially the leper. People came to see Jesus for bodily healing. Hundreds of people crowded around Christ as He walked, as He rested and as He tried to preach. Each person who came to Jesus was hoping that they would be cured by Christ.
Sometimes relatives and friends brought their sick family member or friend to be healed by Jesus. Mark chapter 2 records just such a time.
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.
The paralytic made had persistent friends. They couldn’t get through the door, so they dug a hole in the roof and lowered him down to Jesus. Wouldn’t it be awesome to have such friends?
Jesus looked at the man and said, “Your sins are forgiven.” That may be strange – the man wanted healing, the friends wanted healing, yet Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Jesus saw the man and gave him what he needed, not what he wanted. The man was alive. The man could live many years being paralyzed. However, the man could not live eternally with his sins. He needed his sins forgiven for eternal life. Jesus knew that and gave him what he needed. Then He gave the man what he wanted – He healed him.
That is the way it is with us. We come to God and ask for things, for changes, for blessings. God hears our prayers and always gives us what we need, not always what we ask for. He provides all we need for daily life – not daily wants. However, God will often provide that for which we ask, not because we need it, but we want it. Our Heavenly Father knows that which is good for us and provides it for us.
What is the one thing we all need? We all need forgiveness of sins. That was given to us through Jesus on the cross 2,000 years ago. I thank and praise God He has given me what I need. I thank and praise God for giving me what I want. I thank and praise God for not giving me that which would harm me.
Prayer: Than you God for forgiveness of sins. Amen
Sometimes relatives and friends brought their sick family member or friend to be healed by Jesus. Mark chapter 2 records just such a time.
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.
The paralytic made had persistent friends. They couldn’t get through the door, so they dug a hole in the roof and lowered him down to Jesus. Wouldn’t it be awesome to have such friends?
Jesus looked at the man and said, “Your sins are forgiven.” That may be strange – the man wanted healing, the friends wanted healing, yet Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Jesus saw the man and gave him what he needed, not what he wanted. The man was alive. The man could live many years being paralyzed. However, the man could not live eternally with his sins. He needed his sins forgiven for eternal life. Jesus knew that and gave him what he needed. Then He gave the man what he wanted – He healed him.
That is the way it is with us. We come to God and ask for things, for changes, for blessings. God hears our prayers and always gives us what we need, not always what we ask for. He provides all we need for daily life – not daily wants. However, God will often provide that for which we ask, not because we need it, but we want it. Our Heavenly Father knows that which is good for us and provides it for us.
What is the one thing we all need? We all need forgiveness of sins. That was given to us through Jesus on the cross 2,000 years ago. I thank and praise God He has given me what I need. I thank and praise God for giving me what I want. I thank and praise God for not giving me that which would harm me.
Prayer: Than you God for forgiveness of sins. Amen