Do
you remember the story of healing found in Mark 2:112, A few days later, when
Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he
had come home. 2 They gathered in
such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and
he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried
by four of them. 4 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. 5 When Jesus saw
their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son,
your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now
some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,
7 “Why does
this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God
alone?”
8 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? 9 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?
Be
wise today and always - bring your friends to Jesus.