And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" ~ Mark 2:5-7
"Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Not in the sense of personal offense that Jesus was forgiving the paralyzed man for, but instead in the sense of the ultimate cleansing that forgiveness brings to the soul. Only God can do this.
Exactly.
Only God can do this.
That is the point that Mark is making in this "Clash of Kingdoms" narrative.
The kingdom of this world is in conflict with the Kingdom of God.
And Jesus - the One True King - has arrived on the scene and is beginning to display what God's Kingdom looks like. In this instance, the Kingdom of God looks like forgiving sins, healing paralysis, and setting people's paradigms free of limited thinking and narrow judgments. And this Kingdom has come, because Jesus the King has come.
And He will return again, to take to Himself those who are His subjects, the people of God by faith who are living in the reality of the rule and reign of King Jesus Christ.
Have you been set free in Jesus Christ?
Are you living out this faith freedom in acts of kingdom kindness and courageous care?
Whom do you need to "carry" to Jesus (in prayer, personal conversation, and invitation)?
The work is all around.
Will you see it?
The Kingdom is at hand.
Are you living in the freedom of forgiveness that Jesus the King has given by faith in Him?
Praying for you to have freedom in your faith to live out your forgiveness in Christ the King,
~ Pastor Sean and Tess