Faith to Press In

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

Mark 2:1-12 

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. ² And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. ³ And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. ⁴ And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. ⁵ And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” ⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ⁷ “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming!Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ⁸ And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? ¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— ¹¹ “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” ¹² And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

The house was packed.  It was so packed that even the entrance was filled with eager listeners who had pressed in and positioned themselves as near to Christ as they could manage.  They may have had the closest physical proximity to Christ, but some (the scribes) had hearts that were very far from the Lord.  They lacked faith in Christ's authority, not believing that He was God in the flesh.  Jesus perceived in His spirit their lack of faith.  The doubters were not mumbling to each other, but were simply making an internal judgment.  In their minds, Jesus was "stepping over the line" when he forgave the paralytic of his sins.  

There was no lack of faith, however, when Jesus looked upon the four men who would not be restrained from accessing Jesus' healing power.  Jesus responded to their faith and met the paralytic's greatest need - forgiveness.  Then, as a testimony of His authority, Jesus healed him and sent him home!  Did you notice that the paralytic never verbally asked for forgiveness?  In fact, the four friends didn't ask, but Jesus still saw their faith.  Jesus discerned their hearts and that of the paralytic, and He found faith.  Faith is what the Son of Man desires and what He will seek in us when He returns to gather us to Himself (Luke 18:8).

How is your faith?  Do you press in when your don't "feel" close to the Lord?  He knows where you are when you are standing outside of intimacy with Him.  He sees you.  Sometimes He puts the faith of His children to the test through trials and various sufferings so that we would have a genuine faith (I Peter 1:6-7).  Can you muster up enough faith to press in?  Are you willing to take great measures in order to gain access to His presence in your life?  Jesus always responds to our efforts done in faith (Matthew 9:20-22 and Matthew 21:22).

Now here is an amazing fact about God.  God still comes near to us and is FAITHFUL even when we lack faith!  Remember the time that Jesus calmed the storm at sea for the fearful disciples. . . after He said "O you of little faith"? (Matthew 8:26)  And also there was a father with his boy who had an unclean spirit.  He lacked faith in Jesus' power to heal, then he pleaded with Christ to help him with his unbelief!  Jesus healed the boy (Mark 9:22-24).  You see, God can never be unfaithful toward His children.  "All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies," Psalm 25:10.  "For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever" Psalm 117:2.  Jesus' name is Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11).  He desires us to have faith because He Himself is Faithful.  Likewise, we are to be holy as He is holy.  Our faithfulness is pleasing to Him.  When our faith fails, He is still Faithful!  Praise God that He never changes!