April 26, 2009
As Jesus’ earthly ministry advanced, many sought His miraculous healing power to resolve their physical suffering. But Jesus’ message has never been an earthly one. He challenges our preoccupation with the things that are felt and seen. Alistair Begg teaches us that our need to be forgiven of our sin supersedes all other concerns.
40iAnd a leper8 came to him, imploring him, and jkneeling said to him, k“If you will, you can make me clean.” 41Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43And lJesus9 sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44and said to him, m“See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, nshow yourself to the priest and ooffer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, pfor a proof to them.” 45qBut he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter ra town, but was out in rdesolate places, and speople were coming to him from every quarter.
1And when he returned to tCapernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3uAnd they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, vthey removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5And when Jesus wsaw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, xyour sins are forgiven.” 6Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7“Why does this man speak like that? yHe is blaspheming! zWho can forgive sins but God alone?” 8And immediately Jesus, aperceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10But that you may know that bthe 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.” 12And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and cglorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
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