◄ What Does Mark 2:5 Mean? ►

Jesus could have spent his entire life-time healing all that were physically sick, maimed, demon possessed, or leprous. He could have fed the multitudes daily with bread and fish, or with manna and quail, until physical illness was eradicated and bodily hunger was satisfied.

But Jesus had come for a greater purpose than simply to supply man's many physical needs. Jesus had come to turn men from sin and unbelief back to trust and dependance upon the Lord their God.

He had been sent to feed the multitudes with spiritual food and to give them spiritual light and eternal life. He had come to save guilty sinners from their sins and to give them a measure of faith, a blessed hope, and a love that passes human understanding. He had come to provide all that they need for life and godliness, and to bestow it upon them in great abundance.

Jesus had come to call Israel to repentance and to raise the spiritually dead race of humanity from their trespasses and sin. He had been sent from His Father in heaven to offer mankind a gift of salvation, by grace through faith in Him, so that whosoever would believe on His name might be saved by grace.

When Jesus looked at this paralysed man, He knew that sin was the critical issue in his life. Indeed, forgiveness of sins is the crucial matter for all people, and so Jesus said to the man: "Son, your sins are forgiven." Sin in the life of all men is like a creeping paralysis, while the forgiveness of God is akin to having health restored and life revitalised.

The faith of the four men who brought their friend to Jesus for physical healing must have blessed the Lord, and He responded to their need. But they too had to learn a deeper spiritual lesson: that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins to those who believe on His name. A lesson that has eternal consequences.

Thank You, Father, that Jesus died on the Cross to pay the price for my sins and that by believing on His name, my sins have been forgiven forever, and my life is now hid with Christ in God. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.