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Mark 2 English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. ² And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. ³ And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. ⁴ And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. ⁵ And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” ⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ⁷ “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ⁸ And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? ¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— ¹¹ “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” ¹² And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

REFLECTION

1. The four men were deeply concerned about their friend and wanted to see him helped. They had the faith to believe that Jesus could and would meet his need. They did not simply “pray about it,” but they put action to their prayers; and were not discouraged by the difficult circumstances. They worked together, and Jesus rewarded their efforts by healing their friend.
2. Jesus chose to do what they considered harder to show that He could also do what they considered easier. He did the miracle which they could see that they might know that he had done the other one (forgiving sins) that they could not see.
3. God has called us not only to be His disciples individually, but to be formed into communities of faith too.  We pray for one another and work for the healing and wholeness of others, just as this paralytic’s four friends help him receive the healing he needs.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, I admire the loving and supportive relationship between these four friends and the paralytic. I hope that my brothers and sisters and I can love each other like this, and through mutual help and support, receive all the healing in our body, emotion, spirit, and life by the Lord. Each of us has many brokenness, bitterness, and pain in our lives, and we all need the comfort of the Lord. You have called us to form a loving community, to come to you together, and to cry out to you. Lord, I am willing to do this from today, to support and comfort the brothers and sisters in need, please be with us. Amen!

HYMN

Living Waters – youtu.be/LA9UfBEHciY