After Jesus came down, after his time of temptation, He met with He began calling his disciples, and started out his journey of HEALING and FORGIVENESS.
"Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need doctor, but the SICK. I have not come to call the RIGHTEOUS, but the sinners to REPENTANCE." Luke 5:31&32 (NIV)
Matthew (Levi) was one one of the first Jesus had called, after the fishermen, Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John. Matthew knew he had been a sinner, so when Jesus forgave Him, he got up and left his job as a tax collector to follow Jesus, just as the fishermen did to become "fishers of men".
We tend to take HEALING for granted - it is AMAZING - but FORGIVENESS is even more AWESOME. Why? Because, we need the authority of Jesus and His Father.
When it comes to HEALING we see Jesus as a MIRACLE WORKER. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus and "His supernatural power". HEALING begins when we reach out and PRAY, when we step out in FAITH. Jesus can walk with you through all the pain and "storms" of life.
"In what ways do people experience Jesus' power in their lives? What is the purpose of JESUS' MIRACLE WORKING? What are the rewards of faith in JESUS AS HEALER, SAVIOUR AND LORD? How is worship an expression of your faith? Worship is a voluntary act of gratitute offered to our Saviour and Healer, to whom one day we will stand before." Max Lucado
1. HEALING A PARALYZED MAN
Read Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26
"A few days later when Jesus entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come. They gathered in such a large number that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to Him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them." Mark 2:1-3 (NIV)
This PARALYZED MAN had some caring friends, whose faith led them to take him to Jesus. These four friends were unable to reach Jesus through the door of the house, so they went up to the roof, they took off the tiles and lowered their friend down to Jesus.
"Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Young man, your sins are forgiven." Jesus said. "What is easier to say, "Your sins are forgiven, than to say, get up and walk?" Luke 5:20, 23 (NLT)
The Pharisees were very uncomfortable with Jesus' words. Jesus knew what they were thinking:
"I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins."So He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take up your mat and go home." Immediately, he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God." Luke 5:24&25 (NIV)
The paralyzed man was not only HEALED and was able to WALK , he was FORGIVEN. Luke continued to tell us about the man's friends FAITH. It was this that "moved them" to take their friend to Jesus, and it was Jesus' GRACE that FORGAVE the man and led to HIS HEALING.
Do you have a disability that robs you of your faith, or does it strengthen you? Remember, you don't need to "go it alone"! For Jesus is on your side! He and your friends will help you to "present your requests " to God, with Jesus' healing power.
Jesus confirms His PROMISES OF FORGIVENESS and comfirms PEOPLE'S FAITH IN HIS HEALING POWER.
"The initiative and faith of His friends leads to this man's HEALING - both physical and spiritual. When He says in HIS WORD the man IS FORGIVEN, these miracles happen." Pat & David Alexander
"The Holy Bible - New International Version" : (2011), Biblica
"The Holy Bible - New Living Translation": (2015), Tyndale Hous Foundation
"Jesus is the Healer", 2022, Paul Mariono, Jeremy Johnson (Words/Music); IDMC (International Discipleship Making Church), Worship Dance Music Kids, Lifeway Music/You Tube
"Jesus Heals the Paralytic", 2025, RashRash, New Christian Songs, You Tube
LUCADO, Max, "Jesus - The God Who Know Your Name: Compassionate Physician", 2020, Thomas Nelson Publishers/You Version
ALEXANDER, Pat & David, "Lion Book of Hanbook of the Bible - Volume 4", 2002, Lion Publishers
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