Taking Care of Sin First - Mark 2:9-11

"Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise, take up your bed and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—he said to the paralytic—I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home." While Jesus healed many people during His earthly ministry, this is the second healing of an identified person recorded in Mark (2:1-12) and Luke (5:17-26) and the fourth recorded in Matthew (9:1-8). A paralyzed man being let down through the roof of a house in front of Jesus has lots of dramatic effect and is certainly noteworthy. But I think the story is significant and the reason that this account of a miracle of healing is recorded in the Bible is because Jesus confronts the Jewish religious leaders about what His real mission is. Although Jesus has authority to heal people, taking care of sin is His primary objective. Before Jesus heals or delivers you, He needs to take care of your sin problem first!