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Words of Jesus Part 26
- Mark 2:1 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.
Jesus was surrounded by people so thick that
is was indeed like the media or press of today. If Jesus was here
today in person, there would be a different kind of press
surrounding Him, pressing upon Him but probably to discredit Him or
find a flaw in Him, like the Pharisees and Scribes of those times.
There are different reasons for a crowd pressing close to a person
of importance. To hear what he or she has to say and to receive what
the person has to give or to find fault, find a reason to discredit
them to the public r find a way to stop them.
Matthew recounts this same healing but does
not mention anyone being led down from the roof.
I see here the attitude of not giving up. It wasn't the man that was
sick who wouldn't give up but those helping him. I see such love for
the one suffering that they were so determined to get to Jesus, they
opened up the roof and let the sick man down. Do you think if we
showed that much zeal and determination that we wouldn't be able to
receive salvation, healing and anything in the will of God from our
Lord. Maybe we give up too soon. These people showed more
determination that I have ever shown. They did not give up.
Palsy. (contracted from paralysis). The loss
of sensation, or the power of motion, or both, in any part of the
body. The infirmities included under this name, in the New Testament
were various: --
-
The paralytic shock affecting the whole
body, or apoplexy.
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That affecting only one side.
-
Affecting the whole system below the
neck.
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Catalepsy, caused by the
contraction of the muscles in the whole, or a part, of the body.
This was very dangerous and often fatal. The part affected
remains immovable, and diminishes in size and dries up. A hand
thus affected was called "a withered hand." Matthew 12:10-13.
-
Cramp. This was a most dreadful
disease caused by the chills of the nights. The limbs remain
immovably fixed in the same position as when seized as it, and
the person seems like one suffering torture. It is frequently
followed, in a few days, by death. Several paralytics were cured
by Jesus. Matthew 4:24; Matthew 8:13 etc.
One paralyzed is completely dependent upon
those that help. This man was lucky to have people who not only
cared but didn't give up when great crowds prevented them from
seeking help from the Lord.
As for the damage to the roof. I have a
feeling they didn't suffer loss, but if they did, just the salvation
of the soul was worth more than any roof.
Another thing discussed here is forgiveness
of sins. Jesus came mainly to forgive sins and make the way of
salvation whereby we would not have to pay the supreme penalty for
sins, that being eternal death or hell. Jesus showed by saying that
they man's sins was forgiven that the main reason for His coming was
to save from sin and by saying this and also healing the diseased
person, He was showing proof that He had power to forgive sins as
well as heal the sick.
Only God has the power to forgive sins. This
is one thing we must remember. Jesus was God in the flesh. Jesus had
the power to forgive sins.
We are to preach the gospel and tell others
of salvation. We are to heal the sick also but God does the healing;
we cannot heal by our own power.
- Acts 3:11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the
people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly
wondering.
- 12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel,
why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own
power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
- 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers,
hath glorified his Son Jesus;..............
Signs are to follow those that believe as
being part of the gospel and done along with the gospel. All glory
belongs to the Lord.
Peter and John acknowledged that it was not
by their power or holiness but by God's power that the sick were
healed. They refused to accept any adoration or glory for what God
did.
God only has the power to forgive sins. That
power was not given to man but man is to be the vessel to bring the
message of forgiveness and salvation to all who believe. Let us not
rob God by taking any power and glory to ourselves because we have
nothing that we did not receive.
I believe a person with determination and
zeal can get as close to God and be used of God in a mighty way to
save the lost. We are as close to God as we desire to be. Nothing is
impossible if we seek God with all our hearts. We can be saved and
filled with the Holy Spirit by being determined and not giving up.
-DJC
Words of
Jesus Part 27
Words of Jesus
Index
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