BE HEALED, YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN

These controversal words by Jesus caused the Pharisees to go out and plot his death.

We read that people brought a paralyzed man to Jesus. However, there were so many people that they could not get through the door. So they made a hole in the roof and let him down through the roof. Imagine trying that stunt today!

Anyway, when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man:

        "Son, your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:5

Strange words indeed to utter to a paralyzed man.

Of course, the Pharisees immediately took exception to this. What right had this man from Nazareth to forgive sins?

Why would Jesus have said these words to the sick man? And He does not only say it once, He repeats His statement of sin in this man's life:

         "Which is easier to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you', or to say, 'Arise,
          take up your bed and walk'. But that you may know that the Son of Man has power
          on earth to forgive sins - He said to the paralytic, "' I say to you, arise, take up your bed,
          and go to your house.' Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the
          presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We never
          saw anything like this'!" Mark 2:9-12

This man was paralyzed by sin. We do not know what sin. It might have been fear, or guilt about something that he had done that had cloistered him to his bed.

Today, it is common knowledge and most, if not all, medical practitioners will confirm that many diseases originate from tension, worry, stress, fear, guilt - in fact from the spirit, soul and mind of man.

I knew a lady in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, some thirty years ago, who was paralyzed for almost seven years. Her husband used to physically assault her. She became paralyzed. They divorced - she walked!! Her sickness was a psychological defence mechanism against his brutality. I know that she walked - because she was my colleague at the office!

Does that mean that all diseases have the same origin? No. Jesus confirms this in another instance:

             "Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His
              disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that
              he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned,
              but that the works of God should be revealed in him." " John 9:1-3

He was born blind. It could not have been his own sin, or guilt, or fear, or any such negative thing in his life that had caused his blindness.

Yet, going back to the paralytic, whose sins Jesus had forgiven, we can learn a very valuable lesson from him. If we are troubled by a chronic condition, fatigue, or stress, it would be a simple exercise to go to the Lord first. Ask Him whether there is anything that we should repent of, earnestly ask for His forgiveness in humility and then accept forgiveness for whatever that may be.

Then we can say: "My sins are forgiven, therefore I am healed of this condition."

Try it - you may be astounded at the results.

Thank You, Lord, that healing is in Your hand. Whether You heal us of  our sin, fear, guilt, low self-esteem, obesity, or a disease suffered from birth, matters not. All healing comes from You. Help us to discern whether we harbor anything in our lives that may cause our bodies to rebel and to manifest disease as a sign thereof. Help us to not only confess, but to repent and be healed in the Name of Jesus.