Which is easier?
I have been thinking recently about some of the questions that Jesus asked. Sometimes they were to challenge the hypocrisy of the religious leaders he met. At other times, they were to encourage people and draw out their faith. Over the coming weeks I’ll reflect on some of these questions. In the beginning of Mark’s gospel we read about an encounter Jesus had with a man who was paralysed. Four of his friends carried him on a stretcher to Jesus believing that he could heal him.
When he was placed in front of Jesus he did not heal him immediately in the way that his friends might have expected. Instead he spoke to him about his sins being forgiven. This angered the religious leaders. They knew that only God had the power and authority to forgive sins. But here was a young carpenter from Nazareth telling the crippled man that his sins were forgiven.
But Jesus knew what they were thinking and spoke it out loud. Mark puts it like this:
“Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man* has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” (Mark 2:8-11 NLT)
The heart of the question Jesus asked was, “Which is easier to forgive someone’s sins or heal their body?” He proved his right and power to forgive sins by also healing the man’s body. Modern psychology and medicine have increasingly become aware that we need to be seen as whole people. A healthy life is not just about a healthy body. We are multi-dimensional beings with physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and social needs. Together these areas of our lives contribute to our health and well-being or lack of it.
Jesus Christ demonstrated his concern for the whole person when he healed the paralysed man. He also showed that he is able to forgive our sins through his God-given power and authority. His death on the cross was the ultimate demonstration of his commitment to bringing the fullness of God’s life to people.
Do you have a friend who needs your help to come near to Jesus? Do you need to hear his words offering you forgiveness and healing?
When he was placed in front of Jesus he did not heal him immediately in the way that his friends might have expected. Instead he spoke to him about his sins being forgiven. This angered the religious leaders. They knew that only God had the power and authority to forgive sins. But here was a young carpenter from Nazareth telling the crippled man that his sins were forgiven.
But Jesus knew what they were thinking and spoke it out loud. Mark puts it like this:
“Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man* has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” (Mark 2:8-11 NLT)
The heart of the question Jesus asked was, “Which is easier to forgive someone’s sins or heal their body?” He proved his right and power to forgive sins by also healing the man’s body. Modern psychology and medicine have increasingly become aware that we need to be seen as whole people. A healthy life is not just about a healthy body. We are multi-dimensional beings with physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and social needs. Together these areas of our lives contribute to our health and well-being or lack of it.
Jesus Christ demonstrated his concern for the whole person when he healed the paralysed man. He also showed that he is able to forgive our sins through his God-given power and authority. His death on the cross was the ultimate demonstration of his commitment to bringing the fullness of God’s life to people.
Do you have a friend who needs your help to come near to Jesus? Do you need to hear his words offering you forgiveness and healing?
posted by Peter Wilson at 1:54 PM
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