Fat Monk


10 Apr 2023

Your sins are forgiven

In Jesus' day, major illnesses / disabilities were often perceived as the effect of sins. For example, John 9.1-2 (NLT).

"
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”
"

In this particular story, Jesus clarified that the blind man's case was not related to sin (verse 3).

However, there was a particular story when the disability, I think, was caused by sin.

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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.”
"

(Mark 2.1-5 NLT)

The four might have known about their friend's sins. Maybe they were complicit in them too. (Reading the reaction in verse 6-7, maybe even the Pharisees knew about the sins.)

The five friends were not expecting forgiveness. They were fully aware they were sinners. They only came for healing.

But Jesus knew everything and he welcomed sinners. He extended his grace to meet what they needed. He forgave and he healed.

Lord,
you know my sins and their impact on my life,
especially spiritually and psychologically.
Thanks to Jesus' cross and resurrection,
I am forgiven.
Please help me live a healthy life
in spirit, mind, and body.