“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mark 2:5-7)
The paralyzed man needed to be healed, but Jesus didn’t say, “Get up and walk.” Instead, He told the man his sins were forgiven.
That presented a problem to the religious leaders sitting there in that house. They didn’t believe that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, so they didn’t believe He could forgive sins.
But Jesus was proving something to us through this incident. He was making the point that forgiveness and healing go hand in hand. When we receive one, the other belongs to us as well.
Mark 2:8 says, “Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves.” Then Jesus asked the religious leaders, “Which is easier to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”
That didn’t make sense to me for a long time. Then I saw it. It’s so simple. Jesus was saying, “It doesn’t matter which one I say. If I say, ‘Get up and walk’ that means you’re forgiven. If I say, ‘You’re forgiven,’ that means ‘Get up and walk.'”
The two always go together. Once you have one, the other automatically belongs to you. It’s a package deal!
I’m forgiven! I’m healed! Healing belongs to me as surely as forgiveness
does. Both are included in my covenant with my heavenly Father!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.