The Jesus Way: Day 6 The WAY of Faith - Pastor Mark Miller

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“A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 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. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

 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? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man,  “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 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!”
(Mark 2:1-12 NIV)

When you’re walking in “The Jesus Way,” you’ll see God do unexpected and powerful things in your life, just like He did in this miracle. Tired of religion and equally unimpressed with the religious leaders of their day, people were drawn to the message and miracles of Jesus. He spoke with authority and compassion and lived with authenticity. Speaking to a packed house, Mark tells us of four men who carried a paralyzed friend on a mat to see Jesus. Unable to get through the crowded house to Jesus, they went up on the roof and did something radical! They dug a hole in someone’s roof and lowered their paralyzed friend on a mat, right down in front of Jesus, and the crowd gathered all around Him!  Imagine the scene! All the attention was, then, drawn to what was happening right in front of them. No matter what Jesus was saying, the moment took over, and everyone must have wondered what Jesus would do. Mark’s Gospel tells us what Jesus did. “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’” Mark 2:5 (NLT). 

What? Weren’t the expectations of the friends and the paralyzed man himself to be healed? Jesus dealt with the greater need first. Man’s deepest need is never physical - but spiritual! It’s the paralysis of sin that cripples our lives more than any other disease. Jesus dealt with the man’s primary need first: to be forgiven, no longer bound by sin. In fact, Jesus would use the occasion to demonstrate His Deity! The religious leaders in the crowd were offended! They knew that only God could forgive sin! They accused Jesus of blasphemy! Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat and walk?’ So, I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.’” Mark 2:8-10 (NLT).

Then, Jesus performs the second miracle. He turns to the paralyzed man still on his mat and says, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” (Vs. 11).

“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 2:12 (NLT).

The Jesus Way produces a faith that amazes, one that is seldom seen. What if we lived our lives in such a way that people said, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” It’s a faith that shines like a bright light in a dark world and offers hope. It’s faith that reflects the very life of Christ in us for which there is no other explanation but God! 

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