Modern Day Magi

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14............. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. - Acts 17:11

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Mark 2

This chapter begins with one of the very famous scenes from Jesus' ministry. Jesus heals the paralytic man who was lowered through the roof. After fogiving the man's sins Jesus is accused of blasphemy. To which He responds "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."

This highlights the hollowness of the forgiveness of sins given by anyone other than God. Of course it is much easier to SAY that sins are forgiven than to say to a paralysed man "get up and walk". It is impossible to actually fogive sins (unless you are Jesus) but very easy to say they are forgiven. Forgiveness is not really varyfied untill the next life. Saying to a criple, "get up and walk" and then having him stay crippled would expose the fraud. Jesus was not and is not a fraud. He healed the cripple, just as he forgave the sin and saved him.