Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Why Did Jesus Do Miracles?


Mark 2:1-12  And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. (2) And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. (3) And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. (4) And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. (5) When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. (6) But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, (7) Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? (8) And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? (9) Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? (10) But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)  (11) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. (12) And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. 

Once again, our text today focuses around a miracle that Jesus performs.  He is back in Capernaum, and the news of his arrival back to town has caused a swarm of people at the house he was staying.  The crowd was so thick, that four friends bearing a crippled man, were unable to get to Jesus.  To get the crippled man to Jesus, the four lowered the man through the roof. 

What Jesus does next shocks and infuriates the religious leaders of the day.  Instead of simply healing the man and causing him to walk again (which he does do later), he first declares that the sins of this man are forgiven.  This statement causes the scribes (the experts at the Law of Moses) to accuse Jesus of Blasphemy!  How dare Jesus project himself as being equal to God and say that a man can forgive sin!

Jesus’ response was so profound and on point.  He asks his critics;  “Which is easier to forgive a man’s sins (invisible and impossible to prove) or to say take up thy bed and walk (openly provable by a number of people)”?  And then he makes the statement that is the focus of our lesson today.

Mark 2:10  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 

Jesus said that he performed this miracle to PROVE that he has the POWER and authority to forgive sins.  Because he demonstrated that he has the power to heal a clearly identified crippled man that fact proves that he is from God and that he has the power given by God to forgive the sins of man.  The removal of the sin of man is the sole purpose of Jesus’ coming to this earth.  And Jesus, being able to heal the sick, and raise men from the dead is a clear proof that Jesus is who he says he is.


Reflecting His SON,  
Dennis Hogan
Minister, North Hardin Church of Christ

1804 Sam Stewart Dr.
Radcliff, KY  40160

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