Friends bring a paralysed man to Jesus, who by this stage is a semi-famous miracle worker. The paralysed man is lowered to Jesus through a desperately-made opening in the flat-roofed house. Jesus sees this physically handicapped man and says to him, quite surprisingly, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Why is Jesus so insensitive and tactless? Surely he realised the desperate man needed healing. The key is to see that Jesus knew that the paralysed man’s physical handicap wasn’t his biggest, deepest problem. Jesus knew that the man had a far greater issue. Jesus knew he was a sinner estranged from his Creator and because the man was estranged from God he would not only suffer in this world, but he would also suffer in the world to come, for all eternity, in hell. Jesus knew what his big issue was, and so said, “Son, our sins are forgiven”. Jesus extended to the spiritually paralysed man forgiveness and new life for all eternity. His new life would start that very day and have no end.
What is the biggest issue you’re facing right now? What’s causing you the most joy or the most pain? Remember that as a Christian, Jesus has dealt with your biggest problem and that you now belong to him. He cares and control. He empowers and enables. If you are not a Christian yet, make sure that deal with the biggest issue before you get caught up in the others.
Oh yes, just to prove that he does care about the other issues too, Jesus tells the paralysed man to stand up and walk home.
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