"Their Faith, His Authority"

February 12, 2013

“Their Faith, His Authority”

Blessings Folk!

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



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Matthew, Mark and Luke give an account of a common event.
The John passage is a different encounter.

It is likely that most of us are familiar with this story.

Let me encourage to pay close attention to some particular phrases.

Re-read the passages and watch…

  • note how the friends of the paralytic would not stop...they could not press through the crowd, so, they came through the roof. Jesus and others had to know what was happening while it was occurring.
  • Jesus saw “their” faith...whose faith? The paralytics? Yes. His friends? Yes! (watch what we learn about faith as we go through the gospels)
  • “Son/Friend, your sins are forgiven”...but, he needed healing? What is the relationship between forgiveness and healing? Hummm…
  • Of course the religious rulers went into an apoplectic fit…”He is blaspheming”
  • “Jesus realized in His Spirit”...we will see such often...the Lord would “know” something “unknowable”… Spirit of knowledge…
  • Jesus knew what they were thinking. He then asks, “which is easier, to say ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say “Stand up and walk’”?...then the Lord say “...so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He then commanded the man to stand up, pick up the stretcher and walk home. The man did.
  • the Luke account has an intriguing phrase… “the power of the Lord was with Him to heal.” Wow.

Think on these things...
Power of the Lord was with Him to heal.
Faith
Sins are forgiven...he needed healing.
Who can forgive sins but God alone.
Jesus has authority
Attack by religious rulers.

What was the reaction of the people?
  • seized by astonishment
  • afraid
  • filled with awe
  • glorified God
  • “we have never seen such things”
  • “we have seen incredible things today”

May we live likewise.
By faith.
In His authority.
May the Power of the Lord be continually manifest through us.
THE way to the live.