Bringing a Friend to Meet Jesus
To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. Acts 10:43 (ESV)
Four men brought a paralyzed friend to Jesus for healing. Wrapping ropes around his pallet, they carried him to where Jesus was staying. As the men neared the house, they saw the overflowing crowd. Undeterred, they climbed to the roof and began tearing away tiles. As soon as the opening was big enough, they attached the ropes to the corners of the pallet and lowered it into the room right at Jesus’ feet.
“Your sins are forgiven.” Jesus’ words astounded everyone in the room.
The scribes and Pharisees didn’t speak, but their thoughts were obvious, “Only God could forgive sins. Who did Jesus think he was! This was blasphemy!”
Jesus asked them, “Is it easier to say, ‘You’re sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Get up and walk’?” Turning to the paralytic He said, “But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, I say, ‘Get up, pick up your pallet, and go home’” (Mark 2:9-11).
The paralytic did just what Jesus commanded although he hadn’t been able to move a second before. He believed Jesus had healed him.
The scribes and Pharisees saw the miracle, but felt threatened. They could only pronounce forgiveness of sins when proper atonement through sacrifice had been made. The paralytic had made no sacrifice; in fact, his paralysis prevented him from doing anything!
Jesus showed that He had the authority to forgive sins as well as the power to heal. Sometimes we come to Him with obvious physical needs when He wants to deal with spiritual needs. Sometimes we are paralyzed by sin, unable to pull ourselves out of a pit—even one we dug for ourselves. God has given us fellow believers to support us. They often see better than we can the obstacles that must be overcome before we can come to Jesus.
DIG DEEPER:
Read Mark 2:1-12. Contrast the faith of the five men who came for healing with the unbelief of the scribes and Pharisees.
You may be familiar with John 3:16, but do you know John 3:17-21? How could these verses be applied to the scribes and Pharisees and to anyone who can’t see their need or who refuses to come to Jesus for forgiveness?
Read Mark 10:17-18 and Romans 3:21-28. How do we receive salvation, the forgiveness of our sins?
Nancy J. Baker