Reading Mark today,
"A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:1-5 (NIV)
It is always amazing to me how Jesus sees life so differently than we do. What is of highest priority to us, is not always that for Jesus. This can be very challenging, especially if we are going through a difficult time.
The paralyzed man obviously had a physical issue. Yet the first thing Jesus said to him was, "Your sins are forgiven." In fact, reading a little further we see that in this case Jesus did not appear to heal the man to make his life on earth easier, but to display his authority to forgive sins. I even wonder if he would have healed him at all had his authority to forgive sins not been questioned?
"...Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all." vv 9-12 emphasis mine
Jesus places the highest importance on his authority to forgive sins, because that is what restores the relationship with him. This life will soon pass away, what he chooses to provide for us in terms of health, wealth, even earthly relationships will always take a second place to a restored and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ.
Do we place the same value on this as he does?
