Blasphemy? I Think Not! : Mark 2:8-11 : What Jesus Did! : HEARTLIGHT®

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Blasphemy? I Think Not! - Mark 2:8-11

Jesus knew that these teachers of the law were thinking those things about him. So Jesus said to them, "Why do you have these questions in your minds? The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. But how can I prove this to you? Maybe you are thinking it was easy for me to say to the crippled man, 'Your sins are forgiven.' {No one could see if it really happened.} But what if I say to the man, 'Stand up. Take your bed and walk'? Then you will be able to see if I really have this power or not." So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, stand up. Take your mat and go home." (ERV) Full Text

Key Thought

Jesus heals people for many different reasons and under many different circumstances. The bottom line is this: Jesus heals folks because he loves them and wants to bring them to God. In this instance, however, Jesus is moved by two additional things. First, he sees the faith of this man's friends and he is touched by their concern. Second, he is frustrated with the cynicism and opposition from those who are present only to criticize him. They doubt his authority, so he demonstrates it: he heals the man! Then he emphasizes that the miracle he has done shows he has the authority to forgive sins. The real challenge for you and me is to recognize that Jesus' authority doesn't extend just to his power to teach and command, but also to heal, mend, help, forgive, and bless.

Today's Prayer

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Holy and Almighty LORD of the ages, thank you that your authority has been powerfully demonstrated in Jesus. Help me open my heart to him fully and to not only respond with obedience to Jesus' commands, but to also let him in to nurture and bless. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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Today's Verses in Context

A few days later, Jesus came back to Capernaum. The news spread that Jesus was back home. Many, many people gathered to hear Jesus speak. The house was full. There was no place to stand, not even outside the door. Jesus was teaching these people. Some people brought a paralyzed (crippled) man to Jesus. Four men were carrying the paralyzed man. But they could not bring the man to Jesus because the house was full of people. So the men went to the roof above Jesus and made a hole in the roof. Then they lowered the mat with the paralyzed man on it. Jesus saw that these men had much faith. So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Young man, your sins are forgiven." Some of the teachers of the law were sitting there. They saw what Jesus did, and they said to themselves, "Why does this man say things like that? He is saying things that are against God. Only God can forgive sins." Jesus knew that these teachers of the law were thinking those things about him. So Jesus said to them, "Why do you have these questions in your minds? The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. But how can I prove this to you? Maybe you are thinking it was easy for me to say to the crippled man, 'Your sins are forgiven.' {No one could see if it really happened.} But what if I say to the man, 'Stand up. Take your bed and walk'? Then you will be able to see if I really have this power or not." So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, stand up. Take your mat and go home." The paralyzed man stood up. He took his mat and walked out of the room. All the people could see him. The people were amazed and praised God. They said, "This is the most amazing thing we have ever seen!"

— Mark 2:1-12 (ERV)

The people there were amazed at Jesus' teaching. Jesus did not teach like their teachers of the law. Jesus taught like a person that had authority (power).
Mark 1:22 (ERV)

Jesus and his followers went again to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking in the temple area. The leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the older Jewish leaders came to Jesus. They said to Jesus, "Tell us! What authority (power) do you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?" Jesus answered, "I will ask you a question. You answer my question. Then I will tell you whose authority I use to do these things. Tell me: When John baptized people, did that come from God or was it only from other people? Answer me!" These Jewish leaders talked about Jesus' question. They said to each other, "If we answer, 'John's baptism was from God,' then Jesus will say, 'Then why didn't you believe John?' But we can't say that John's baptism was from someone else." (These leaders were afraid of the people, because the people believed that John was a prophet. ) So the leaders answered Jesus, "We don't know the answer." Jesus said, "Then I will not tell you what authority I use to do these things."
Mark 11:27-33 (ERV)

The people were amazed. They asked each other, "What is happening here? This man is teaching something new. And he teaches with authority (power)! He even gives commands to evil spirits, and the spirits obey him."
Mark 1:27 (ERV)

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HEARTLIGHT^® Magazine is produced by Heartlight, Inc. HEARTLIGHT is a registered service mark of Heartlight, Inc. PO Box 7044, Abilene, TX, USA 79608-7044. Copyright © 1996-2008. Heartlight is supported by Westover Hills Church, Southern Hills Church, and loving Christians from around the world. Scripture quotations are taken from the Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. Used by permission. All rights reserved.