Jesus got back into the boat, crossed the lake again, and came to his hometown. Here, they brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a bed. Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralytic.” Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven.”

Some teachers of the law said within themselves, “This man insult God.”

Jesus was aware of what they were thinking; and said, “Why have you such evil thoughts? Which is easier to say: ‘your sins are forgiven’ or ‘stand up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins,”  he said to the paralyzed man, Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home!”  The man got up, and went home. When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe, and praised God for giving such power to human beings.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

When Jesus came back to his hometown, they brought him a paralyzed man lying in bed and He then able to see their faith. Jesus made noticed a worthy faith of the group who carried the paralyzed man. In this scenario, it is the faith of the many, carrying group that made up Jesus to forgive the paralyzed man and made that stand again in his feet. This people became witnesses of Jesus as He declares forgiveness of sin unto the paralyzed man.

The scenario also told us that sins undermined and weaken man’s physical being, spiritual being and emotional being.  This in return teaches us that man is in state of paralysis without the forgiveness of God. Man cannot stand back on his feet until the blessings of forgiveness are granted.

When the teachers of the law thought that Jesus blasphemed God by saying that the sins of the paralyzed man was forgiven, He to them in front of the believers that the Son of man has the power to forgive the sins by saying “Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home!” This bold declaration of Jesus in front of the doubting teachers became our greatest home of redemption that being sinners is not hopeless for Jesus has the power to forgive our sins. Only Jesus can make us clean in the eyes of the Father in heaven.

In general brothers and sisters, all are paralyze away from God. Everyone needs a community of believers to carry those who are paralyzing as wages of sins. Let it happen that everyone’s experience in the community be revealing like this Bible reading that we have now.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, we are not worthy to witness your act of forgiveness but we are hungry of your forgiveness please grant as the king of forgiveness like the paralyzed man has received in this gospel reading. We praise and glorify your holy name. Amen..

 

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