By Angie Benjamin

Today's Reading: 

Mark 2:1-12

2 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!”

Afternoon sisters, I'll try to make some points on the story of the Paralyzed man whom Jesus healed in this passage. I'm considering and expounding Matthew Henry's commentary.

In this passage we see a group of men, probably friends who were having a hard time getting by Jesus side, they were coming to him, but couldn't get close because of the big crowd.

Isn't this scene a bit similar to what happens in successful or busy churches, where we can be so oblivious to the needy people who want to see Jesus? We should not be  the people in a church that we are so preoccupied with our own relationships and agendas that we don't see those who are trying to get in...Are we letting them in? Are we making a way to reach Jesus? Are we being an obstacle on their way??

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:1-12 It was this man's misery that he needed to be so carried, and shows the suffering state of human life; -

Some people have a hard time coming to Jesus, just as the man mention in this portion of Scripture. They may be paralyzed by their doubts, their questions, or even the fears... Sin also paralyzes. It doesn't allow us to go through life with the freedom God intended us to live with. 

  - it was kind of those who so carried him, and teaches the compassion that should be in men, toward their fellow-creatures in distress.- 

When we recognize someone's needs you can meet, either by yourself or with others who are also concern, how do you act?

Let us make a commitment to do whatever in our power to help them to see Jesus.

 True faith and strong faith may work in various ways; but it shall be accepted and approved by Jesus Christ. Sin is the cause of all our pains and sicknesses. The way to remove the effect, is to take away the cause. Pardon of sin strikes at the root of all diseases. 

Christ proved his power to forgive sin, by showing his power to cure the man sick of the palsy. And his curing diseases was a figure of his pardoning sin, for sin is the disease of the soul; when it is pardoned, it is healed.

*Before saying to the paralytic "get up", Jesus said "Son, your sins are forgiven". To the Jewish leaders must have been such an aggravation...such a blasphemous statement. But Jesus proved them wrong. By forgiving this man's sins, He was made whole. Isn't this beautiful? Jesus dealt with the root of every evil, every disease and in exchange He makes everything right and whole...to those who accept to trade their sins and receive His forgiveness.

 When we see what Christ does in healing souls, we must own that we never saw the like. Most men think themselves whole; they feel no need of a physician, therefore despise or neglect Christ and his gospel. But the convinced, humbled sinner, who despairs of all help, excepting from the Saviour, will show his faith by applying to him without delay.

We are all completely spiritually paralyzed before we are set free by Jesus. The Bible says that we are dead in our trespasses, and that we need to have our spirits revived to live a life that is meaningful and connected to the life-giving grace of God.  And until we are healed of our spiritual paralysis, and only then, can we really deal with all the other paralyses we may have.

Now, physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual paralysis are not modern phenomena.  These issues are often addressed in Scripture, and I believe those myriad stories are there to help us to see our need for Christ and His healing touch. 

Jesus is the only One who can break the chains of spiritual paralysis.   Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father, except by Me!

But if you are still dealing with your own issues, go to Jesus so you can be set free, and then be enabled to go to others.

Have a beautiful Weekend! x