Dragged to Jesus’ Feet

Sorry, it is a little late.  Matthew 9:1-8

So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. ² Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

³ And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”

⁴ But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? ⁵ For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? ⁶ But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” ⁷ And he arose and departed to his house.

⁸ Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled^[ and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

Sometimes it takes extraordinary effort to get to Jesus. In this passage, Jesus is surrounded by people who are likely His enemies. The crowd of Pharisees and religious leaders have come out from all of the towns around likely to question Jesus and try to trap Jesus. Meanwhile, there are four guys with great faith and a mission – to get their paralyzed friend to the only One who can do anything about it.

They tear through all obstacles and lay their faith bare before the Savior – who comes through for them and demonstrates a true relationship between sin and Savior in front of the disbelieving crowd.

So question for you?

Who are you in this story?

Are you the guy on the mat?  He was so entrenched in his sin, he was trapped with nothing he could do to save himself.

Are you the Pharisees and scribes?  They were so caught up in themselves and life, they missed the power of God there to heal them.

Or are you one of the 4 friends?  Knowing Jesus is the answer and not stopping at anything to get there.

Don’t miss the fact that Jesus uses their work as a testimony to the unbelieving world!

Who do you want to be in this story?

Pastor Tom Neary

Calvary Catonsville Church

http://www.calvarycatonsvill.com