And again He entered Capernaum after [some] days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive [them], not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four [men]. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this [Man] speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘[Your] sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”–He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw [anything] like this!”

– Mark 2:1-12 (NKJV)

Mark two begins with the account of the how Jesus heals a paralytic man. The man’s friends show amazing faith by tearing up the roof and dropping the man in above Jesus. (Let’s just agree that this was a pretty radical and bold move on the part of his friends. They must have really loved him.) So then, Jesus sees the great faith these guys demonstrate and he tells the man that his sins are forgiven. And it stuns the crowd! They were expecting a healing! This man’s handicap is what seems to be his most glaring need. Yet Jesus doesn’t just see the outside, he sees this man’s heart and what this man (and all of us) really need. Some of the people who are there are doubtful that Jesus can even forgive sin. Jesus sees their doubt and authenticates his statement by healing the man.

This man’s greatest need was for the forgiveness of his sins. I wonder if his friends knew this? I wonder if they would have been as aggressive to get him to Jesus if Jesus would have forgiven his sins, but left him a paralytic? I wonder if we sometimes look at our neighbors, coworkers, and friends and don’t really see that their greatest need is to trust in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins? The good news is that Jesus forgives the sins of those who repent and turn to him. Who are you telling today?

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. Thank you that you saw this man’s greatest need. Thank you that you gave him more than he wanted and searched deeply within his heart to provide that which he needed most. Forgive us of our sins and help us see the real needs of other around us. We want to follow you. Please guide us in your will and direction for us. In Jesus Name, Amen.