“They came unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy which was borne of four... when Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee” — Mark 2:3, 5.
THE great outstanding purpose of our Lord’s ministry as the Servant of Jehovah was to bring people into right relationship with God. What availed it if the sick were healed of physical ailments but continued on in their sins, unrepentant and unbelieving? The palsied physical condition of the man who was saved and healed pictures the real state of men generally— “without strength” (Rom. 5:6), and therefore unable to deliver themselves from the dire results of their sins. But Jesus came not to help men save themselves, but to deliver them Himself from their lost estate. It is not when we have done our best that His grace comes in to make up full weight, as it were. But when we realize that we are utterly helpless and look to Him alone for salvation, He does for us what no one else could do.
It is all of grace through faith, that the glory might be His alone. The faith of the four men who brought their palsied friend to Jesus is a beautiful example of fellowship in the glad service of bringing others to Christ. But he, too, believed, and so the faith of all five was rewarded.
“Forgiveness! ‘twas a joyful sound
To guilty sinners doomed to die;
We’d publish it the world around,
And gladly shout it through the sky.
‘Twas the rich gift of love divine;
‘Tis full effacing ev’ry crime;
Unbounded shall its glories shine,
And know no change by changing time.”
—Gibbons.