PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 2:1-12
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Mark 2:10)
The teachers of the law were partially right, only God can forgive sins…
AND… those that God gives the authority to forgive on God’s behalf!
In Genesis 1, God authorized Adam and Eve to represent God in the world.
When they failed, God stepped in with a new Adam, the promised Son of Man.
By refusing Satan, Jesus reverses the curse and restores humanity.
Jesus, the restored Adam, does have the authority to declare God’s forgiveness.
But what is more, SO DO YOU AND I! (John 20:22-23)
We are anointed, like Jesus, to represent God on earth.
We do not accomplish God’s forgiveness, but we do announce it.
As forgiven and restored sinners, we let other sinners know, ‘your sins are forgiven’.
People need to know this, and we have been sent to tell them.
Too many people are weighed down by guilt, shame or a sense of unworthiness.
And too often it is Christians that makes them feel this way.
With Jesus, we are God’s agents of grace… let people know they are forgiven!
PRAYER
Lord, your Spirit has anointed me with authority to share your forgiveness. What a privilege. Please put someone in my path today that I can share this good news with!
Not rejected anymore – rather Jesus lifts him by first telling him his since are forgiven – I’m sure he was told by many that he was a sinner or his parents were – that’s why after all he’s paralyzed – and then more than that Jesus elevates him and he is able to walk – affirming to those around watching that yes this man is a forgiven sinner even from their point-of-view. Jesus came to redeem us from sin and He did it for me too by believing and trusting in Him. Not doubting – but answering the question: who is this? Jesus is the Messiah – that it the answer they should have understood – Jesus can forgive sins and does for all who believe! That is a message to share: forgiveness of sin!
Yes, Jesus can forgive sins. All sins are ultimately against God but also against Jesus since Jesus is also God. Jesus heals the man to prove that He can forgive sins. It is interesting that His friends brought him to Jesus, the amazing person they had heard He was. I need to bring people/friends also to Jesus. I need to pray for them and invite then also to come to Jesus.
1 Come to Jesus,
Come to Jesus,
Come to Jesus just now, just now.
Come to Jesus,
Come to Jesus just now!
2 Only trust him, …
3 He is able, …
4 He will save you, …