Posted on 08/05/2025 3:36:19 AM PDT by metmom
"Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city. And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven’” (Matthew 9:1–2).
Christianity’s most distinctive message is the truth that God can forgive sin. The essence of the gospel is that Christ’s atoning death can free people from the penalty of sin. If Jesus can heal diseases and disabilities, He can surely provide cleansing for the consequences of sin. The men who brought the paralytic to the Lord undoubtedly believed this very strongly.
Those with crippling disabilities have always had to endure social stigma and neglect. But in the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day and much earlier, the stigma was especially pronounced because everyone believed chronic ailments stemmed directly from someone’s sin. Bildad told Job, “If your sons sinned against Him, then He delivered them into the power of their transgression” (Job 8:4; cf. 4:7; John 9:1–2).
The paralytic here likely had the same understanding concerning sin and disease, thus he was determined at any cost to see Jesus for forgiveness and a resultant physical healing. Christ saw the determination of his faith as his friends worked through the crowd to get the paralytic in front of Him. That aggressive approach revealed their hearts of faith. In all his physical ugliness and spiritual neediness, the man threw himself upon Jesus’ mercy.
The paralyzed man came to the Lord in true humility and poverty of spirit, which God requires of all seeking hearts (Matt. 5:3). Jesus sometimes healed people of little faith, but He was especially willing to heal those of great faith, as with the men and his friends.
Ask Yourself
Why does God choose to work through our faith?
Why would He want to include our cooperation as part of His healing activity?
What might He be requiring of you as He deals with a certain need in your life?
Studying God’s Word ping
Bildad and his friends understood nothing
and spoke of things they knew not
They had no earthly idea what had happened
to Job. Job didn’t know either but he had
to also suffer their “preaching”
Job 16:2 (for the thread)
Job 2:11
21st Century King James Version
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came every one from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite.For they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%202%3A11&version=KJ21
Job 16:2
21st Century King James Version
2 “I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are ye all!
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2016%3A2&version=KJ21
Job 42:7-8
21st Century King James Version
7 And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against thee and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job hath.
8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering. And My servant Job shall pray for you; for him will I accept, lest I deal with you after your folly in that ye have not spoken of Me the thing which is right, like My servant Job.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2042%3A7-8&version=KJ21
(the stigma was especially pronounced because everyone believed chronic ailments stemmed directly from someone’s sin)
Yep. The Disciples and their comments about the man born blind.
John 9:1-3
English Standard Version
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
9 As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth.
2 And His Disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned,
this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents,
but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%209%3A1-3&version=ESV
(John 9:1–2)
This portion of Scripture must ALWAYS include verse 3 for proper context
I’m surprised that they left it out - it’s the MOST IMPORTANT part of John 9:1-3
And sometimes foolish preaching like that can increase a person/s suffering. Not physically, but in the soul and spirit.
Best course of action to do with someone going through a trial is to let them know you’re praying for them, ask them if they need anything, and tell them if they do to let you know.
And then occasionally check up on them. Suffering can be very lonely.
Wise words 👍👍👍
🛐🛐🛐🙏🙏🙏✝️✝️✝️
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