“When Jesus saw their
faith, he said to the paralytic, “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 the paralytic, 'Your
sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But
that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive
sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, "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 2:5-12)
Observations:
I asked myself who are the
main characters involved!
-
Jesus
-
Paralytic
-
Teachers of the law
-
Crowd
Observations:
I asked myself what role
they play!
Point 1:
Jesus
-
Jesus saw their (four men who brought the
paralytic) faith.
-
Jesus said to the paralytic, “Son, your
sins are forgiven.”
-
Jesus knew in his spirit what the teachers
of the law were thinking in their hearts.
-
Jesus asks the teachers of the law 3
questions.
-
Jesus tells them He has the authority to
forgive sins.
-
Jesus tells the paralytic 3 things.
Point 2:
Paralytic
-
The paralytic got up.
-
The paralytic picked up his mat.
-
The paralytic took his mat and went home.
Point 3:
Teachers of the law
-
The teachers of the law were sitting there when Jesus told the
paralytic his sins were forgiven.
-
They thought to themselves ‘why does this fellow talk like
that?’
-
They thought to themselves, ‘He’s blaspheming!
-
They thought to themselves, ‘Who can forgive sins but God
alone?’
Point 4:
Crowds
-
The paralytic walking amazed the crowds.
-
The crowds praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything
like this.”
Observations/Interpretations:
Yesterday, I focused on the first 2 actions
of Jesus. Today, I decided to focus on the next 2 actions of Jesus.
I asked myself what is the
significance of Jesus’ actions?
Statement 3: Jesus knew in his spirit what the teachers of the law were
thinking in their hearts.
It is so interesting to know that Jesus knew in
his spirit what the teachers of the law were thinking in their hearts
even before they expressed it out aloud. It is important to remember
that the teachers of the law were not talking to Jesus directly but
thinking amongst themselves.
Now, imagine what they would have felt when
Jesus poses 3 questions to them out of the blue.
Statement 4: Jesus asks the teachers of the law 3 questions.
Question
1: 'Why are you thinking these things?'
Whoa! Out of the blue Jesus asks them why they
were thinking what they were thinking. That must have caught them off
guard. First, Jesus tells the paralytic that his sins were forgiven and
now he is able to read their minds.
It is interesting that Jesus does not stop with
asking ‘why they were thinking these things’ but decides to address what
they were thinking with 2 more questions.
Questions 2&3: Which is easier: to say to
the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your
mat and walk'?
Jesus addresses them in their own confusion.
Definitely they were confused and could have been perplexed too after
Jesus could read their minds knowing what they were thinking in their
hearts.
Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life.
Jesus knows what I am thinking in my heart even before I express it.
This can be exciting or scary. When I think to myself positive or
negative things, Jesus already knows. There are times Jesus could
challenge me on those thoughts.
If Jesus knows what I am thinking in my heart
then he definitely also knows what statements come out of my mouth, for
nothing comes out of our mouth which has not already been in our head at
some time or other.
This means I cannot really hide anything from
Jesus. He knows before it will be. He knows everything about me and can
challenge me on some of my thought processes.
I ask you now dear friend,
what are you thinking in your mind?
Dear friend, whatever you are thinking in your
heart or mind, it is exciting to know that Jesus already knows about it
even if we do not express it publicly. Jesus is not concerned just with
our actions but our thought processes that lead to negative actions.
Knowing that Jesus already knows what we think
before we think it and bring it to action should make us more aware of
how we live our lives. It also helps us to know that Jesus is there to
hold us accountable for our actions for our own good.
When we are thinking something and we are doing
it on false premises, Jesus can challenge those premises and ask us why
we are thinking the way we are.
It can be scary because sometimes our thought
processes can be just plain evil and we do not want to act on them. Jesus
knows those too.
What can we do in those
situations?
We can ask the Lord Jesus to forgive us of these
thought processes and ask him to fill us with His presence and good
thoughts. I know He will!
When we are having thoughts we don’t like, we
can keep calling the Name of Jesus in our hearts or even aloud. Jesus
sees our motives. Focusing on the Lord can help us in our thought
processes. Our thought processes are not always pleasant and we need
Jesus to help us daily.
I know when I have thoughts that are not Holy I
call on the name of Jesus. At other times, I pray to the Lord not to
take my thoughts seriously because there are some bad thoughts I just
cannot help. I let the Lord know that I am not going to act on them.
I don’t know what you are going through when it
comes to your thought processes but Jesus does. When you have thoughts
that you do not want to have and they permeate your mind, know that
Jesus loves you and wants you to focus on Him. Ask Him to forgive you
and move on knowing you are forgiven. Whatever negative thoughts persist
in a day, leave them at the foot of the Cross knowing Jesus looks at
your motives.
If you do not want to have them but they keep
coming, let Jesus know. As long as you do not entertain those thoughts
to the point that they become actions, I do not believe you have sinned.
Even when we sin, our Lord is so merciful to forgive us and cleanse us
from all unrighteousness when we turn to Him.
Friend, whatever is on your minds, it is good to
know that Jesus already knows! Yet, He wants us to share whatever we are
going with Him. When we do not share, He still knows but there is
something about talking to the Lord. It is a personal relationship.
Whatever is on your mind, you do not have to face it alone. Even if it
is so painful and you think nobody understands, Jesus wants to reach you
where you are at. Come to Him as you are and allow Him to work in your
life. He wants to help you.
Even if they are bad thoughts, Jesus is there
for you to share it with Him and let Him know why you feel that way. He
will not abandon you!
The other part to it is when we think badly
about others as the Pharisees were doing about Jesus, Jesus already knew
about it and knows about what we do too. We may think we are talking
behind a person’s back but the Lord is aware of it and is not happy. I
know I have been guilty of that sadly and have asked the Lord
forgiveness. It is good to know that the Lord watches everything we do
and knows about it to keep us accountable! Our Messiah imparts nurture
daily as he knows what we are thinking!
May you know that Jesus knows what you are
thinking in your heart and loves you still!
Everyday I ask the Lord not to pay attention to
negative thoughts that permeate my mind if I don’t act on them. I ask
the Lord not to listen to my bad thoughts that sometimes just pop up. I
then move on! I ask the Lord to help me be Holy as He is Holy. When I
mess up, I ask Him for His forgiveness. He does forgive and help, for our
Messiah imparts nurture daily!
"Messiah Imparts Nurture
Daily!"(M.I.N.D)/”What are you
thinking in your mind?”
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I want
to thank you so much if you knew what the Pharisees were saying to each
other and what they were thinking, you know our minds too and what is
going on in them. I thank you for being there for us. Please help us Oh
Lord for the glory and honor of your Name. Thank you that we are in your
thoughts always. I love you Jesus. Help us please Jesus. There are times
we can be tortured by our own thoughts and only your healing voice and
presence can deliver us. Forgive us when we think bad thoughts and
sometimes entertain those thoughts that they become actions. We need
your help to keep our mind and heart Holy. Help us to focus on you Lord.
When we do think negative things, please forgive us Lord. Thank you for
your mercies and knowing what we think before we think it. Thank you
that you came to die for sinners and not for those who think they are
righteous. It means a lot Jesus. We give our hearts and minds to you.
Thank you whatever we are thinking we can share it with you even if they
are bad thoughts and you will help us through. Help us to be open with
you Lord knowing you love us unconditionally. Thank you so much Jesus!
In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
If you would like to invite Jesus
Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can
this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises
for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His
wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to
the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in
your heart.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I am a sinner Lord.
I am so sorry for my sins. I confess my sins to you. I confess the wrong
things I have done and messed up my own life. I need you Lord right now
and in the years to come. I have gone my own way and have not found what
only you can give me. You alone have the words of Eternal Life. You
alone love me unconditionally for who I am. Thank you Jesus! I turn
myself to you Oh Lord in this Fall of September 2005. Please forgive me of
all my sins and come into my heart. I accept
you Jesus into my heart. Thanks Jesus for coming into my heart. Thanks
for forgiving me of all my sins. Thanks for giving me a new identity in
you. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior as I believe in my
heart that you died and came back to life to save me now and forever. I
give myself to you and ask you to be in control of my life. Thank you
Jesus for the coming days we can do things together. Thanks for being my
Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and
answered me. Thanks Jesus for changing me and helping me through life's
storms and winds. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
Friend, you may feel something
or you may not but this you can be assured that the Lord Jesus has come
into your life and will give you a new beginning! Amen!
Get yourself involved in a
campus Bible study, fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing
church and be involved to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord.
They all need to be supplements for your own precious time with the Lord
in prayer and meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me
know!
If you
need anyone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible with this Fall of
September 2005, you can email me at
reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579.
Love in Christ,
Ramesh
Next Devotional:
"What do you represent by your A.C.T.I.O.N.S?"
Express your view
