Forgiven

Every Wednesday, we review the previous weekend’s message. This past weekend, Jonathan referenced a story in Mark 2 to talk about the fact that God is greater than our past.


Mark 2
1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home.
2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them,
3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.
4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.
5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves,
7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?
9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?
10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said,
11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”


Forgiven. We all have things that we want God to heal ... physically or relationally or emotionally or financially or vocationally; but none of them are as important, from God’s perspective, as our need to be healed spiritually ... our need to be forgiven. That is what is so powerful about this story. Jesus was demonstrating to this man (and us) his ability to take care of his eternal need (separation from God) by dealing his temporary need (being paralyzed). Is there something in your past that is paralyzing you? If so, I invite you to take a moment right now and confess it to God ... ask Him to forgive ... experience the healing you really need.