Razing the Roof

While Jesus was preaching at a home in Capernaum, four resolute men brought a paralyzed man to Jesus to be healed. The crowd was so thick and deep that they took the man up on the roof, tore a hole through it, and lowered the paralytic at Jesus' feet. Our Lord looked at the man and declared his sins forgiven. Religious leaders observing the event thought Jesus' words blasphemous. Of course Jesus knew their thoughts. Mark 2:9-12 is how Jesus responds: "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”--He said to the paralytic--“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (ESV) Jesus is no ordinary Man. He is God. And the declaration of forgiveness is even greater than the healing. The stretcher-bearers and the paralyzed man had faith and the object of their faith was Jesus. The physical healing reflected what our Lord would accomplish by dying on the cross for all those paralyzed by sin. Has it sunk in that your sins likewise can be forgiven, that you too can leap to your feet and walk with Him forevermore? Arise friend and walk!