Mark 2
May 3, 2022
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” (v5)
I wonder what this paralyzed man thought when he heard those words from Jesus. He hadn’t come to talk about his sins. He came to get healed. But Jesus wanted to heal him at the deepest point of his need. And even more important than his paralysis was his need for forgiveness. Even though this man couldn’t commit some of the outward sins (because of his paralysis), Jesus knew this guy’s heart was still tainted by bitterness, resentment and envy - sins that would separate him from a holy God for eternity - if not dealt with. And so, Jesus loved him enough to give him what he most needed: forgiveness.
Lord Jesus, I praise that You are the One who forgives sins and reconciles me to a right relationship with God. Hallelujah! Thank You for giving me better than what I want (usually temporary relief from pain or hardship) and instead, giving me what I need: forgiveness of sins and an eternal relationship with God through Your shed blood.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
