Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Rise, take your bed and walk?"
-- Mark 2:9
Ultimately even the greatest of miracles is temporary - all but one.
Jesus once raised a man from the dead. Lazarus had been in the grave four days. Lazarus' sisters hoped Jesus would show up earlier and heal their brother of his sickness. Jesus didn't do what they expected. He did something more incredible. And a dead man was given life.
But it was temporary. Eventually Lazarus died (again). The goal here is not to be morbid - there is really good news coming. But think about it for a moment. Blind eyes that miraculously see, will again be closed. Deaf ears that suddenly and miraculously hear will one day know silence. Healed bodies eventually break down. You get the picture.
In today's chapter, a paralyzed man receives two miracles. (I might argue three - but we'll come to that). One miracle is temporary. One is eternal.
Jesus begins with the eternal. He forgives the man's sin. Then as a demonstration of his power and authority to forgive, he heals the man's body. This second miracle - the more noticeable and eye-catching one - was temporary. Great! Incredible! Miraculous! But temporary.
It was the first that was actually earth-shattering. Heaven and hell shattering might be more accurate. The first miracle was destiny changing. Jesus forgave the man's sins. Jesus made him right with God. Jesus redeemed and restored the man. Jesus showered him with amazing grace.
And then, just to show that he actually could do what he said, Jesus offhandedly says to the paralytic man, "Oh, pick your mat up. You won't need it any more. Walk."
Those around were offended by the first miracle. "Who has the authority to forgive sin?" Exactly! The answer to your question is standing in a robe right in front of you. And he stands before us today - always with the offer of miraculous forgiveness and restoration.
Wait. Stop and think about that. You are forgiven!
What miracles are we praying for today? We need to have perspective. It is good to pray for the miraculous: our health, our finances, our relationships, our circumstances. But ultimately these will be temporary. Jesus offers much more.
I mentioned there might be a third miracle at work in the story. This is the miracle of the four friends. The four may not have been the best planners, but their hearts were large. They cared for their paralyzed friend; enough to do the unreasonable. Enough to be miracles to him - or at least the ones that carried him to the miracle. You and I can be miracles to others today; by bearing their stretchers to the feet of Jesus. And if need be, have the guts to dig through a roof or two.
God, you are the Miracle Giver...
For now...
D
