Bible Passage: “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” (Mark 2:5 NIV)
Scripture Reading: Mark 2:1-12
Have you ever been surprised by a nasty smell?
In grade 10, I shared a school locker with a buddy. One day, we began to notice a smell, but ignored it and went on Christmas break.
Coming back two weeks later, we were welcomed by a stench that could make an ogre’s stomach turn.
Finally, I’d had enough, emptied the locker, and found the culprit: a lunch bag buried deep inside with the contents still in it.
I dropped it in the trash, and the smell dissipated instantly. Our locker needed some inner healing that didn’t happen until I faced the real issue.
When it comes to our inner healing, are we as men willing to face the real issue?
In Mark 2, some men carry a paralyzed man to Jesus for healing, but are prevented because of the crowd size.
Instead of giving up, they did something that seems odd to us: they “made an opening in the roof…and lowered the mat the man was laying on,” (Mark 2:4).
Just picture it! The house is overflowing with people. The roof suddenly opens, and a paralyzed man is lowered down.
I bet no one expected to hear what Jesus said first:
“Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5).
Jesus looked at the man, and instead of giving outer healing, He gave him inner healing.
To be clear, nowhere in this passage does Jesus say that our outer ailments are due to our inner sins. In fact, He used the man’s physical situation to prove His own deity.
So, why did Jesus do this?
Because Jesus knows that no matter how dire our physical need is, our spiritual need is bigger.
The problem is, we read this familiar story with the end in mind. We need to pause and gain an understanding of how free the man on the mat must have felt as his heart received healing before his legs did.
Here is the truth that will set you free:
We all need forgiveness for sins.
Like taking out a smelly lunch bag, bring your inner sins to the One who sees them and will forgive you of them, and let your heart be healed so that you, too, can jump in His freedom.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You that You know my inner secrets and still love me. Help me find the courage to bring my sins into Your light and to know Your forgiveness. Amen.
Reflection: What is one sin you need forgiveness for? Talk to a good Christian brother about it. Pray together and find Jesus’ forgiveness.
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