Mark 2:1-12 is the
account of the paralyzed man whose 4 friends lower him into the house
through the roof. Let’s be honest, most of us have heard this, read this, and seen
flannelgraph figures depict this story countless times. But what hit me
this week was what Jesus said. First he said, “My child, your sins are
forgiven.” (he speaks to the man’s identity [emotional healing] and then
to his sins. I know there’s more analysis that can be done but
basically Jesus is healing EVERY part of this man with His words,
emotional, spiritual, and physical.) now, that’s not the coolest part. So,
everyone freaks out that this man is “forgiving sins” so Jesus is
basically like chill out guys I can just as easily say “stand up, pick
up your mat, and go home.” same-same.
ministry should look like. And by “ministry” I mean those everyday encounters with the people all around us. As we encounter broken people we are to declare theirforgiveness! Child, son, daughter, your sins are forgiven, walk in your
freedom! We are to speak to the identities INSIDE of people and as we
declare who they truly are, they will receive healing (emotional,
spiritual, physical). So many times we get distracted by the garbage and
poop that is covering people’s lives but we are to have Heavenly eyes
to see past all that and see the Daughter of God and Kingdom queen in
the eyes of the prostitute, stripper, and drug addict. We see the mighty warrior inside the angry abuser, alcoholic, and pimp. We speak to people’s
destinies, we speak life, our words give LIFE to the dry bones of
desperation and hopelessness. We DECLARE to a generation, “YOUR SINS ARE
FORGIVEN! ARISE AND SHINE!”
