2 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. ² Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, ³ four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. ⁴ They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. ⁵ Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

⁶ But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, ⁷ “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

⁸ Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? ⁹ Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? ¹⁰ So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ¹¹ “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

¹² And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

Mark 2:1-12

Dear God, just verses 1-5 have so much in them. My first thought is wondering why he was staying in the house while so many people were trying to see him. Was he staying away from the temple? Was he trying to lay low? I don’t know, but it’s interesting that his popularity created a situation where these men destroyed the roof of the house that was hosting Jesus. How did the homeowner react? Were the men who tore up the roof ready to fix it?

My next thought was about Jesus’s seeming intention to make his point about forgiving sin by starting with that. He knew that’s not why the people brought the man to him. He knew they wanted him to heal their friend. But he started with something he knew would be inflammatory: His ability to forgive sin. Then he moved on to the healing. But up through verse five, the only thing he’s done so far is teach and forgive sin.

I confess that I think I’ve had kind of a bad attitude lately towards others who are outside of my work sphere. Honestly, I think it’s fatigue. I am kind of mentally and emotionally fatigued right now. Can I get some healing? Is my problem that I’m trying to do so much on my own and without your power? Wow, I think that might be it. I praying to you, but am I calling on you to live through me and love through me?

Father, I need your provision. Beyond resources, I need your provision in my spirit. I need your Spirit to fill me, motivate me, strengthen me, direct me, and sustain me. I need your vision. I need your peace. I need your love and joy. I need your kindness, patience, and goodness. I need your gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. I need you. I need you Holy Spirit. I need you, Jesus. I need you, Father. To quote a Rich Mullins song, “I cry the name of the one who loves me!”

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen