Mark 2:1-12 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 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. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 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. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
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? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 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, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 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!”
Kevin Murphy
St. Matthew Lutheran Church
Observation: Father, you generously respond to the times I show any trust in you and agree with my brothers and sisters in prayer. You encourage me to bring any of my family and friends to you that are in need of your healing power. Part of your authority and power in my life is to forgive and heal those who are in need of your mercy.
Action: Jesus, today I will intentionally seek out people who cross my path who are in need of a word of forgiveness. I will pray for your healing power to be demonstrated in the lives of anyone I meet who clearly needs your healing touch today.
“Carried by four”
God is blowing my mind! He is showing me that I am the paralytic. That I am and have been paralyzed by fear and shame and sin. I am in need of my friends, the four, that brought the paralytic to Jesus to be healed. He wants me to press in to what the four friends might represent. That some how, some way, I HAVE TO GET IN TO JESUS PRESENCE so He can do only what He can do. He is also showing me that when someone listens, believes, “gets up” and walk in the newness and the miracle of His touch, people are amazed!!
I praise you Father for the intimacy and the mercy and the grace you allow for me. I love you. Help me today be an encourager to the men and women that are MY “carriers”… and may i “get up, take my mat, and go home”!
Amen!
Observation: Faith makes people bold. At least it can if they let it. We have a choice to act boldly in our faith or just let it simmer quietly. I can see Jesus smiling at the four friends and their paralytic friend, proud of their boldness.
Action: Encourage one of my young friends to be bold in his/her faith.
Observation: I see how “religious” people can be incredibly wrong in their estimation of godly things.
Action: I will reevaluate the estimations I have made about some works, examining them to see if they really are the blasphemies I thought they were or if they are actually a work of God I have missed.
O: “Why are you thinking these things?” Ouch!! I don’t think I like this one. I see God showing me that I can be like those religious leaders who were so bitter or jealous or afraid that they missed the point. They missed the miracle. They missed the love and freedom. I see God showing me that deep down I have this tendency and it needs to go.
A: Going forward, I will intentionally pour love and healing and grace out towards others, not my secretly disguised “know it all” attitude. Jesus knew what they were thinking and He knows what I’m thinking too. I mostly have this attitude toward other Christians who I think live isolated lives from those who aren’t saved.