"Take Courage…Sins Forgiven"

April 2, 2013

“Take Courage...Sins Forgiven”

Blessings Folk!

Today’s reading:
Matthew 9:1-8
Mark 2:1-12
Luke 5:17-26
John 5:17

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The paralytic was brought by others to Jesus.
They were hoping for a healing.
They had faith. Jesus saw it.
I suspect few were expecting what Jesus did.
He exhorted the paralytic to “take courage.”
He told the paralytic that his sins were forgiven.

Take courage?
Sins forgiven?

The scribes were beside themselves.
It was blasphemy to equate oneself with God.

Jesus knew their thoughts.
He told them that He had authority on earth to forgive sins.
As an example...which is easier?
To forgive?
Or to heal?

He then commanded the man to arise, pick up his bed and go home.
The paralytic…he will go by a different moniker now...did so.

The crowds were amazed.
They glorified God because He had given such authority to men.

Let us not be as the religious leaders, thinking evil in our heart at the outpouring of the mercy of the Lord.

Rather, let us be vessels of His mercy.