The Crippled Man

Today scripture reading is found in:

Mark 2:1-13
(1) And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
(2) And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
(3) And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
(4) And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
(5) When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
(6) But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
(7) Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
(8) And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
(9) Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
(10) But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
(11) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
(12) And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
(13) And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. As I prepare this message several things come to mind and it would be the largeness of the crowd of people. There was always a crowd with Jesus. Not a little crowd but a huge crowd of people that followed Jesus because of the miracles. This day in age people follow many people for less reason then miracles, usually having to do with persuasive speech, acting skills or music. Many people follow never realize how attached they get to their favorite pop star and so forth. What draws the crowd is perhaps the need to be social with others that like the same type of thing. The need to see the latest stunt or act. Jesus was a healer, yet no doubt even the priest at times could draw a crowd, after all John did at the river Jordan. What makes the crowd seeking Jesus different then any teacher, political leader or rock star? One He was the Only begotten Son of God, miracles did happen at the touch of his hand and command of his voice. People had faith because it was people they knew that were being healed. Television preachers have people to claim them to be healers, yet not one minister is a true healers, because the power of God in a minister is the healer, a minister is only a messenger. Jesus was the only true healer to walk the face of this earth.

There has to be a percentageof people healed through ministries global for any group to say bring me your sick. If you are in a wheelchair and find yourself being rolling out one might ask did you not receive healing. The type of healing offered by many ministries is spiritual and not physical. Yet I do not doubt all true ministers believe in healing. Yet is a miracle enough to hold a crowd, only to gather a crowd. A crowd will not remain without some thing attracting them. Was Jesus speech enough to hold a crowd, only those that desire the word of God. Jesus used real people in his speech, Opposition from lawyers, and religious leaders would come forth. Sounding much like a good discussion for us that read scripture, but it was type of speech that anger the religious leader of Jesus day because they could not ever win their point with Jesus in a public debate. Perhaps the leaders did not mind it so much because it taught the crowd about basic religious prinicpals but it was taking income right out of their pocket. For the crowd probably paid the one with good speech verse the loosing point of view. It is all about who can wow their audience. Miracles only caused the attraction for the crowd, but it not what kept them coming back for more or remainig with Jesus.

A cripple man's friends were so convienced that Jesus could heal that they tore off panels of the roof of a house. They took rope and attached them to the stretcher and lowered him down to Jesus. Jesus seeing their faith by their very action ask the crowd is it easier to say to this man, your sins are forgiven or get up and walk. The reason for the healing was to prove that Jesus had power to forgive sin. For Jesus said take up your mat and walk. Now the power to forgive sin is a commandment of the new believers. Yet often revenge was sought in the Old testament by the law of a tooth for tooth and eye for eye. All sin or trangression against someone had to be repaid. That idea perhaps coming from original sin and the fact the idea of being outcasted by God seemed like revenge. Yet God never left his people just removed them from his home in heaven, because of obeying the serpent. Parents kick their children out for disobedience and other things. Yet it makes not a parent to love there kids any less or any more.

The cripple man wanted to be healed to the point his friends got involved to see if Jesus would heal him or not. As the man was lower Jesus observed their determination of the man's friends of the lowering of the stretcher. Jesus asked the religious leaders was it easier to forgive sin or to take up you mat and walk. Jesus said the authority that gave him the power to say get up and walk is the same power that gave him to forgive sin. The man got up and picked up his mat and walked. Jesus continue on to teach everywhere he went. Yet the begin of his ministry recorded in Mark had to do with who gave him the authority to do things. It had to come from God, or the devil. The proof it came from God was the healing. The devil never could heal anyone in a miraculous way. He might use medicine, but not a miraculous healing. This man's friends knew this man was crippled. This man rose up and walked by the command of Jesus. The authority Jesus had to heal was evident, and it was the same power to heal physically had the same power to heal spiritually. To break the chains of man so they could know God. Sin will keep a person running from God until a person understands God can and will forgive you if you repent. Yet the eye for eye and tooth for a tooth did not teach forgiveness, but hate. A law not of God, but a law of man. God's law heals man and heals the sinner of sin through faith. When one receives Jesus as Lord and Savior who is the word of God and authority is God then spiritual healing can take place for forgivness of sin.

Join me next week as I continue in Mark 2. This is Christina Farris signing off til next week.