What we really need.

Mark 2:1-12 is the story of the paralytic man lowered through a hole in the roof by his friends in order that he might be healed by Jesus. I love this story. How crazy is it? These guys were bound and determined to get their buddy to see the Man. Even when they had to dig a hole in the roof. Homeowner, maybe not so thrilled? After this occurs, here is what Jesus says:

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (Mark 2:5)

He saw THEIR faith, and tells the paralytic "your sins are forgiven." Huh? Here is my ton of bricks moment this morning. Jesus did not say "your legs are better. You get to walk!" He said, your sins are forgiven. I'm pushing aside a bunch of theology right now, keep that in mind. And there was intention w/ what Jesus said w/ regard to the crowd that was gathered. He forgave sin first and foremost. What the paralytic needed was to be healed internally, set free from the bondage of sin and expectation and reputation, to be free to be who he was and to live. Then the physical part came into play. How often do we seek physical or mental or emotional healing, but disregard our need for forgiveness first? Would a physical ailment be less important if we grasped how deep and wide our forgiven sin is in Jesus? Would it change our perspective? Maybe what ails us would fade into nothing, maybe we wouldn't desire 'healing' if we experienced forgiveness in the truth of Christ.

Maybe...