Today's Reading: Mark 2:5
Mark 2:5 (ESV)
5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Lord please show me the significance of your actions and your words in this text. Please show me your heart and teach me by your Holy Spirit. Let me be encouraged and may my affection for your Son increase.
Jesus sees the faith of the group and declares the paralytic's sins forgiven without initially healing his body
Q- What does this teach about one person's faith impacting another's?
A- Lord I see here that you knew this event was coming for certain. I can imagine you listening to the commotion on the roof and your heart was gladdened by the faithfulness of these men. I can hear your words "Good job men, my faithful servants…today you bring salvation unto your friend and brother"...
James 5:15–16 (ESV)
15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Lord I believe that this historical account illustrates for me how these men ushered their friend into your presence when he was too sick to do it himself. These friends stood by their brother in compassion for his sick state and they went to work in their own faith to see him made well. Jesus saw their faith and he acted Lord. I see here that you are calling me to be active in my prayer for my friends and family that are still sick and are enslaved to sin. I see that they are too sick to see you, too sick to get before you themselves. They need the faithfulness of your servants who long to fulfill the great commission and to usher many before you to receive the grace that has saved us. Lord saving faith is a gift from you and I see here that you activated this call of election into your kingdom for this paralytic by the faithful prayer and action of his friends. This, of course, by your own sovereign design. You wanted this exact scenario to play out not only for me to read of it but for these men to experience the great commission before you even gave it. You wanted these men, and now me, to see how prayer is an alignment of our will to yours in order that you may be glorified and that your grace may abound to all whom you would call unto faith. Truly this was the great power of the prayer of righteous people at work- to God be the Glory!
Q- What does this teach about the power of fellowship and brotherhood?
A- Lord you truly intend for us to be working in one another's lives in faithful prayer and physical action in order to encourage one another and to spur one another on. It can be in response to my faithful and persistent supplication for a brother that you move in him to build his faith and to change his heart or to modify his circumstances to your glory. Let me not grow weary of praying for my brothers in Christ! Let us confess to one another and may we hold one another up in prayer and devotion unto you Jesus. May your Spirit empower us in simple faith to make a difference in the lives of those around us.
Q- What does this teach about God acting based on the intercession of others?
A- Lord you make it plain that you expect us to come to you in intercession for one another and you evidence that you act in response to this faith. Thank you for the beautiful example in the Roman Centurion...
Matthew 8:5–13 (ESV)
5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
From the Matthew Henry Commentary-
Observe his great faith. The more humility the more faith; the more diffident we are of ourselves, the stronger will be our confidence in Jesus Christ. He had an assurance of faith not only that Christ could cure his servant, but,
(1.) That he could cure him at a distance. There needed not any physical contact, as in natural operations, nor any application to the part affected; but the cure, he believed, might be wrought, without bringing the physician and patient together. We read afterwards of those, who brought the man sick of the palsy to Christ, through much difficulty, and set him before him; and Christ commended their faith for a working faith. This centurion did not bring his man sick of the palsy, and Christ commended his faith for a trusting faith: true faith is accepted of Christ, though variously appearing: Christ puts the best construction upon the different methods of religion that people take, and thereby has taught us to do so too. This centurion believed, and it is undoubtedly true, that the power of Christ knows no limits, and therefore nearness and distance are alike to him. Distance of place cannot obstruct either the knowing or working of him that fills all places. Am I a God at hand, says the Lord, and not a God afar off? Jer. 23:23.
(2.) That he could cure him with a word, not send him a medicine, much less a charm; but speak the word only, and I do not question but my servant shall be healed. Herein he owns him to have a divine power, an authority to command all the creatures and powers of nature, which enables him to do whatsoever he pleases in the kingdom of nature; as at first he raised that kingdom by an almighty word, when he said, Let there be light. With men, saying and doing are two things; but not so with Christ, who is therefore the Arm of the Lord, because he is the eternal Word. His saying, Be ye warmed and filled (Jam. 2:16), and healed, warms, and fills and heals.
The centurion’s faith in the power of Christ he here illustrates by the dominion he had, as a centurion, over his soldiers, as a master over his servants; he says to one, Go, and he goes, etc. They were all at his beck and command, so as that he could by them execute things at a distance; his word was a law to them—dictum factum; well-disciplined soldiers know that the commands of their officers are not to be disputed, but obeyed. Thus could Christ speak, and it is done; such a power had he over all bodily diseases. The centurion had this command over his soldiers, though he was himself a man under authority; not a commander-in-chief, but a subaltern officer; much more had Christ this power, who is the supreme and sovereign Lord of all. The centurion’s servants were very obsequious, would go and come at every the least intimation of their master’s mind. Now, [1.] Such servants we all should be to God: we must go and come at his bidding, according to the directions of his word, and the disposals of his providence; run where he sends us, return when he remands us, and do what he appoints. What saith my Lord unto his servant? When his will crosses our own, his must take place, and our own be set aside. [2.] Such servants bodily diseases are to Christ. They seize us when he sends them; they leave us when he calls them back; they have that effect upon us, upon our bodies, upon our souls, that he orders. It is a matter of comfort to all that belong to Christ, for whose good his power is exerted and engaged, that every disease has his commission, executes his command, is under his control, and is made to serve the intentions of his grace. They need not fear sickness, nor what it can do, who see it in the hand of so good a Friend.
Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (Mt 8:5–13). Peabody: Hendrickson.
Lord thank you for your sovereign grace that would order our pain and sustain us in the darkness. Thank you that you enjoy acting upon our circumstances when we join in humble service to you through prayer for our brothers and sisters or for the lost. Thank you for this Centurion who blow me away and introduces a view of your greatness that he understood well without the benefit of your indwelling Spirit to testify or illuminate. Truly this man was amazing and I pray that I might have a fraction of his faith in you O Lord. Thank you that you have such power and authority over our lives and our very souls. I am truly but a worm Lord and I thank you for your love and mercy…
Ephesians 2:4–5 (ESV)
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
From the Matthew Henry Commentary-
Christ admired him [the Centurion], not for his greatness, but for his graces. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled; not as if it were to him new and surprising, he knew the centurion’s faith, for he wrought it; but it was great and excellent, rare and uncommon, and Christ spoke of it as wonderful, to teach us what to admire; not worldly pomp and decorations, but the beauty of holiness, and the ornaments which are in the sight of God of great price. Note, The wonders of grace should affect us more than the wonders of nature or providence, and spiritual attainments more than any achievements in this world. Of those that are rich in faith, not of those that are rich in gold and silver, we should say that they have gotten all this glory, Gen. 30:1. But whatever there is admirable in the faith of any, it must redound to the glory of Christ, who will shortly be himself admired in all them that believe, as having done in and for them marvellous things.Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (Mt 8:5–13). Peabody: Hendrickson.
On the interesting statement in Matthew about the sons of the kingdom being cast into outer darkness...
From the Bible Knowledge Commentary-
But those who thought they would automatically gain entrance because of their religious backgrounds (they considered themselves subjects [lit., “sons”] of the kingdom) would not find entrance (Matt. 8:12). Instead they would be cast into judgment (thrown outside, into the darkness; cf. 22:13).
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Mt 8:5–13). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
From the ESV Study Bible-
But the sons of the kingdom (a Semitic term for national Israel) will lose their claim to the kingdom unless they follow the centurion’s example of faith. weeping and gnashing of teeth. This description of terrible suffering in hell appears several times in Matthew (cf. Matt. 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30) and in Luke 13:28.
Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (1835–1836). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Q- What does this teach about God answering prayer in unexpected ways?
A- Lord I see these men bringing their ill friend before you and though I trust they knew the state of his soul in need of forgiveness I also imagine that they full expected that you would heal his body as well. You chose to answer their intercession in a way unexpected here. You served another purpose in this action and it is for the purpose of your kingdom that you answer all prayer and thus we are to pray "in Jesus name". Teach me always to pray for the glory of your name, the purpose of your kingdom, not for my own kingdom or for my own gain except that which is in service of you Lord. King Solomon is good example of this Lord…
1 Kings 3:9–13 (ESV)
9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.
John 16:23–24 (ESV)
23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
James 4:3 (ESV)
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Q- What does this teach about us seeing the body and the circumstances but God seeing the spirit and the real story?
A- Lord you see our hearts and you know the reality behind all of our circumstances and troubles. You know the depth of our deception and our weakness. You know precisely what we need moment to moment and you order the details of our life to work for our good as we are transformed from glory to glory into the likeness of your Son. Just as here you simultaneously knew what needed to happen in order to serve the needs of every person in that house at once. You captured the minds of the scribes while blessing the four men who came in faith while saving the ill man before even healing him that he would know what is the true matter at hand and that we would all see that your concern is always the heart, not the actions or the appearances.
Q- What does this teach about God working in our life to sanctify us and to make us into the likeness of His Son vs easing our suffering or changing our circumstances?
A- Lord let me be like Job in my willingness to accept both good and evil at your hand. Let me understand how your grace will at times order suffering in my life as a means to your good will for me and for your simultaneous working in in the hearts of those around me as well. In Job, you worked to rescue his three friends of their false view of you and you evidenced your sovereignty in limiting the power of Satan only to that which you willed be so…
Job 2:4–7 (ESV)
4 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” 6 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
Lord I see that Job counted Satan's act of affliction done in hatred of you as your own sovereign act and you even state that he does not sin in ascribing this affliction to your hand…
Job 2:10 (ESV)
10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Lamentations 3:37–38 (ESV)
37 Who has spoken and it came to pass,
unless the Lord has commanded it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that good and bad come?
Thank you Lord that I serve such a mighty God that would be in control over all of my circumstances and my life! Thank you that you even actively protect me from the influence of the devil.
Q- What does this teach about the object of faith and it's importance even above the measure of faith or the understanding of God's intentions?
A- Lord you are the object of our faith- not a system of works or steps or the church or a pastor or our emotions. Remind me always to trust in you and not in what I think you will do Lord. This is the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. This is the faith that Peter lost when he looked at the waves instead of focusing on you as he then found himself sinking. I think little faith means your faith is in something too small, namely an outcome or a circumstance…let my faith be in the largest of all. Let my faith always be in the infinite creator of the universe and the redeemer of my soul!...
Matthew 14:28–33 (ESV)
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Teach me to remember Lord not to trust in a deliverance from any particular circumstance but to trust only in the deliverer. Lord I may not know your intentions or your thoughts or your ways as they are infinitely higher than mine but I do know that you call me Son as you called this paralytic after you saw the faith of his friends. You said "Son, your sins are forgiven". Thank you Lord that I have been adopted and that Iam now an heir to the kingdom…
Galatians 4:5 (ESV)
5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Galatians 4:7 (ESV)
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Romans 8:15 (ESV)
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
James 2:5 (ESV)
5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
But Lord, to tell this one man that his sins are forgiven without healing him yet shows how your priority is the condition of the heart, not the body, not the circumstances, not the end of all suffering. But more- in that moment that you look into the eyes of this man and pronounce him forgiven, what do you think of Lord? You go to the cross some time in the future and you now, in this moment, declare him forgiven and therefore you know of every sin he ever did and ever will commit and you accept in that moment that you will suffer the shame and guilt of each and every sin as though you committed them yourself. In the moment that you call him Son and declare him forgiven you must think of the shame and the guilt and the separation from the Father…complete abandonment on that cross that is to come. Help me O Lord to know my own heart better that I might know my depravity and that I might rejoice all the more in your grace. Let your amazing grace that saves this worm pierce my soul and bring about the sweetest worship and the most joyful surrender!
Soli Deo Gloria!
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Thanks for commenting- I will probably post it if you dont seem to be a crazy person!