Luke 5:17-26
"When Jesus saw their faith, he said, 'Friend, your sins are forgiven.' The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, 'Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?'"
(Luke 5:20-21)
Paralysis shows itself in a variety of ways. Physically, it can stop us from moving our bodies. Spiritually, it is the result of being trapped in the grip of sin.
Of the two, physical health is often our consuming priority. After all, it's been said, "If you have your health, you have everything."
However, God's primary concern is not the healing of our bodies, but the healing of our spirits. His priority is our freedom from sin, not our freedom from discomfort. Despite his physical state, the paralyzed man's greater need was to be restored to God. That's why Jesus first said to him, "Your sins are forgiven."
Still, healing of the spirit is usually not visible. Since those at the scene could not see the forgiveness, they might claim it did not occur. So Jesus healed the man's body. To prove He was God's Son, He healed the paralytic spiritually and physically.
Was it easier for the Savior to forgive the man's sin, or for the Creator to heal his broken body? Only God can do both...and He did!
INSIGHT
DO YOU HAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN? COME TO CHRIST FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT HEALING YOU WILL EVER RECEIVE
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Isaiah 59-60
Psalm 100
Acts 23
Luke 5:17-26
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
17 One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
THREE WAYS TO PRAY
with Sally Lloyd-Jones
Jesus tells us that there are three ways to pray, but only one is pleasing to God. Which category do your prayers usually fall in? You can only answer that question if you know what Jesus said.
DANCING BEFORE THE LORD
with Sally Lloyd-Jones
God created everything in the universe to shout for joy and give glory to its Creator. If God made us for this, why is it often so difficult to do? And how can we get better at it?
No comments:
Post a Comment