F O O T H O L D

READING

8 TWO MEN IN NEED

 

PRAY Help me to understand and obey your word, holy God.

 

READ Mark 2:117.

 

THINK What do these stories teach about Jesus? What kind of person was

he? And what kind of work did he come to do?

 

FOCUS A PARALYSED MAN (112). Imagine you have pushed your way through

the crowd into the house, and are listening to Jesus. Suddenly

bits fall from the ceiling, a hole appears, and then down comes a

paralysed man on a rough bed, held by four ropes. What a

surprise! Jesus speaks! What's that he's saying? 'Stand up and

walk'? No! 'Your sins are forgiven ...' SINS? Did they have

something to do with being paralysed? Or is Jesus saying that the

need to have our sins forgiven comes before any other need  even

the need to be cured of paralysis?

There's a group of superiorlooking religious leaders standing in

one corner, muttering among themselves. What are they thinking

(7)? They are not rejoicing at the great gift of forgiveness

which the man had received; they are complaining that Jesus had

no right to forgive sinners. But they cannot keep their thoughts

hidden from Jesus.

A DESPISED MAN (1317). Now put yourself in Levi's place  you

are sitting there in your office, one of the most unpopular men in

Capernaum, collecting taxes for the hated Romans from your

oppressed Jewish fellowcitizens. Suddenly Jesus appears.

Instead of the criticism you expect, he looks as if he really

cares. And so when he says 'Follow me ... ' you do. Then you

invite him to dinner despite the grumbles of the Jewish leaders.

'But that's why I came,' says Jesus, 'to call SINNERS'.

 

PRAY Give praise to God that he is willing and able to forgive your

sins.


Index - Foot Hold in the Bible

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