PB Devotional

“When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Friendship and persistence in prayer were the common threads in the book of Mark. Just as Jesus honored the persistence of friends as they tore through a roof to lower their sick friend in front of Him, so the prayers of us and our friends receives the same powerful response. Healing, transformation and hope can fill each story of our lives and testify to us the promise of Pentecost. Jesus is doing the very same things today as were recorded in the Gospel of Mark.

You have a choice to make. Doubt and do without or believe and receive! The same question Jesus asked the teachers of the law is the same question He is asking us today when we choose to doubt Him. “Why do you question this in your hearts?” Do you find yourself questioning the promises, power and authority of God? Just because you haven’t seen it or never heard it doesn’t mean it’s not true or it can’t happen in your life. “Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?” It’s all easy for Him! He can do it all! He wants us to be believe that He is the source of all things not a resource. When Jesus Christ resurrected He proved His source of power. His response is the same to you today. “So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Did He prove it? Yes, He did! So believe!

Live as if Christ died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back again tomorrow.

The Road to Pentecost