When Jesus saw their faith…
Mark 2:5 And when Jesus saw their (the friends) faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
This man had some awesome friends! They must have loved him dearly. They were determined to get him to Jesus. The room where Jesus was teaching was full. The news of Jesus healing and teaching had spread.
Now they had to find a way to get their friend to Jesus. They persevered until they found an entrance. They opened the roof to let him down with ropes.
“When Jesus saw their faith…” It was the friends faith Jesus saw!
How is your friends faith? How is your faith for your friends? Is it visible?
So visible that you would go to extraordinary means to get them to Jesus?
Now Jesus recognizes the man could not walk! He understood that they brought him for healing of his body! But Jesus is interested, as He always is, in conditions of our soul. “Son, your sins are forgiven!” Our first need is that we come to Jesus for cleansing, forgiveness of sin. Our friends faith will move the Holy Spirit to draw us to Him but it is only in our personal belief and faith that we are forgiven and healed.
Mark 2:10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
The Power of the living God
The power of the living God is demonstrated when we by faith believe Jesus has the power to forgive sin and to heal our body, soul and spirit.
The scribes knew only God could forgive sin. They totally missed that Jesus was who He said He was. He is the Messiah, the Son of Man, sent from the Father to redeem us. Jesus proves to the people that the Son of Man has the power to forgive by demonstrating healing the physical need of the paralytic.
How is the demonstration of God’s power manifesting, visibly shown in your life? In my life?
Paul’s word in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
By faith we believe that our sin debt has been paid. By faith, we rely only on the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not trust in human wisdom but in the power of God.
In order to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, we begin on our knees.
The World starts changing when we pray.
Father,
I pray we will be visible to the world that our faith in you brings the power of your love. May our words and actions be directed by you. I pray our faith will be bold enough to believe and bring others to you for their forgiveness and healing.
Tauren Wells When We Pray
Philemon 1:4 “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.” NIV
Freda Reynolds
For further study:
https://www.treadingwatertiljesuscomes.com/2019/02/21/be-an-overcomer/
