Sunday, August 6, 2017

Friendships

Do you remember the story of healing found in Mark 2:1-­12, A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Have you ever tried to bring a friend to Jesus?

Despite what it may cost, Jesus came to save sinners, and we have a great responsibility to guide them to Him.

Don't we all have friends who need the forgiveness of Jesus?  Are we urgent about it?

There was two healings that took place in this passage; 1. The man was healed from being paralyzed. 2. The man’s sins were forgiven (eternal healing).

Are we afraid of how others will react, or perhaps of how Jesus will react to our efforts?

What sacrifices will you make to bring others to Jesus?