Mark 2:1-12 KJV
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.

Forgiveness is a main theme in the Four Gospels when it comes to those unworthy for Jesus to even talk to by religious leaders opinion, but not that to Jesus. He welcome all that were brought to him. Even those who carried the news from town to town press in around Jesus so that the no one else could come near Jesus at times. The year of popularity and spreading the news about Jesus might sound like a highlight, but it was also a time of those need Jesus had to use some extreme tactics to get to Jesus. This one incident, they remove the roof enough to make a hole big enough to lower the cot down into the assembly where Jesus was. Jesus told the man his sins were forgiven. And the scribes said in the privacy of their heart who can forgive sin but God. Jesus was a reader of the heart of man. Jesus spoke and said so you know Son of man has the power to forgive, take up your mat and walk. Key here is Son of man, speaking of man ability to forgive. Man had no power to heal, but the Son of Man/Son of God had the power to heal. He is only speaking of himself having the power to forgive. I do not doubt the house owner was going to have to forgive them for tearing up his roof. Yet it was for the purpose of their friend was in need of healing.

The length the four friends went to in order to demonstrate their faith is only evidence of the deepness of the faith of these friends had that Jesus could do something about their friends condition. Would Jesus be the one doing the repairs to the roof, or was it fixed in away the tiles came off without much struggle? I do not know, what I know is Jesus knew carpentry and it would not surprise me if he fixed the roof. However the question can man forgive sin, the answer is yes, not just God alone. Some times it does take longer to forgive someone because of the type of sin and suffering of the person doing the forgiving. If Christ forgave us should we not forgive others that same way. We are not God or his Son, but we do have the power to forgive. Was faith necessary for the man to be heal, or for his sins to be forgiven. Did he come seeking forgiveness, or healing, All we know is his friends picked up his mat, tore off the roof and lowered him down to Jesus. Was the man sorry for what his friends did. I do not think that was it. I think it more to do with the fact he was in the presence of Jesus, and unworthy to be lowered down. Maybe even sorry because he could not remove himself from the assembly. Jesus did not ask why he was there, he just said his sins were forgiven. Then Jesus told him to take up his mat and walk as a sign man could forgive sin.

When one reads scripture one has to trust the author that the friends did so in faith and not mocking their friend or Jesus, not believing would mean they were mocking as they lowered their friend down through the roof. Yet it says the friends had faith. Faith is needed to receive forgiveness, but not to give forgiveness. Man in general saved or not saved has the power to forgive. The state of his uncleanness not in question, is state of whether he can be made whole was in question, both spiritually and physically. If he by the power of Christ be healed physically, Jesus could heal him spiritually. The crippled man knew upon taking up his bed and walking that his sin were gone too. The scribes witnessed it and the people all over rejoiced in it.

Is health affect by sin or unforgiveness. It can, but it may not be the root of the problem because disease is common to man. Yet our health can be caused by sin, and guilt of sin. Our inability to ask forgiveness because we feel unworthy to be forgiven, or our state of health, not know to be healed we need to first seek forgiveness. James 5 is clear on that fact that when people call on the elders of the church they are to ask forgiveness and then pray for healing. Yet II Corinthians 1 is clear that we go through problems in this life to help others that are going through similiar struggle. Does James seem in opposition to Paul, no, each situation is different and reason for not being healed or being healed can be for a reason only the person healed or unheal knows about.

I beleive Jesus stress sins forgiven and proof of sins being forgiven, because the evidence was needed in this particular time in history, that he had the power to forgive, Jesus had the ability to die on the cross for our sins and forgive us. I talked about miracle happen to increase faith, but it also to prove something else is possible or already done like forgiveness. It important to know this for one reason, someone not healed maybe struggling with the why me Lord, and I do not understand why I am not healed, and why another is healed. Is faith strong enough to wait for healing. Is faith strong enough to trust God for what impossible man to solve now. Is it possible for man to receive healing without the doubt of the possibility of healing. Don't have enough faith either way, pray for faith, do not worry God is not going to allow you to loose even a mustard seed of faith, if you desire is to believe, desire to grow strong in faith. How God increases faith is not for man to decide but for God will to be done in a person life to increase faith needed for the journey of faith. Forgiveness was ours with or without physical healing, The healing only demonstrating the faith that Jesus could do both. Man has the power to do one and to demonstrate the power of forgiveness.

Count Down to Thanksgiving Day 13: Thank you for Forgiveness even before we ask.

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to forgive others as you forgive us. Help us to understand you have the power to forgive and to heal, but we have a duty to have faith that you can and it meant for us as well. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: James 5:13-16 KJV
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

2 Corinthians 1:6-7 KJV
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

Psalm 103:2-4 KJV
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;