DAY 25: THE RICHES OF GOD’S MERCY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IV- THE PARALYZED MAN

 THE RHEMA WORD FOR TODAY

(A DAILY DEVOTIONAL WITH PREACHER SAM)

 

TOPIC: THE RICHES OF GOD’S MERCY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IV- THE PARALYZED MAN

DATE: 25 SEPTEMBER, 2021

BIBLE READING: MARK 2:1-12

VERSE FOR MEDITATION: MARK 2:5 GNT

Seeing how much faith they had, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”

 

In our Bible reading, we see that Jesus preached the word. There is difference between preaching and teaching, and the Bible is very meticulous in using both. In that same chapter of our Bible reading, we see ‘preach’ (Mk. 2:2) and ‘teach’ (Mk. 2:13). What is the difference?

To teach is to impart instruction, instil doctrine into one or to explain or expound a thing.

 But to preach is to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom of God. It also means to teach about the kingdom of God with evidence.

Matthew 4:23 NKJV

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

The above text has both mentioned there. But preaching always has to do with the kingdom and evidence.

Luke 9:2 NKJV

He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Luke 10:9 NKJV

And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Luke 11:20 NKJV

But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

            This kingdom of God is not the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of God is the reality and the possibilities that are there in God; it is also seen as the rule of God on earth.

            Back to our Bible reading, ‘Jesus preached the word’- The gospel of the kingdom of God. And of course, signs should follow (Mk. 16:20). Here comes the paralyzed man brought in to Jesus by his friends through the rooftop. And the first statement Jesus made after seeing how much faith they had was, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” That was a statement made from the basis of mercy. Jesus Christ was trying to reveal to us here that one of the possibilities that are there in God is mercy, and God rules on the ground of mercy.

            And just as we have seen that healing is one of the dimensions of mercy, this paralyzed man received the mercy that brought him his healing.

            Also, yesterday we saw that the leper had some understanding who Jesus was. And that was why he was so confident. What these four men did was the confidence they had in this man called Jesus. Thus, their friend received the healing dimension of mercy.

 

PRAYER: Father, I know how you rule on the ground of mercy. For this cause I bow my knees to submit myself to your rule.

 

DECLARATION: BECAUSE I HAVE A GOD THAT RULES ON THE GROUND OF MERCY, HIS MERCY WILL CONTINUALLY REIGN IN MY LIFE.

 

JOURNEY THROUGH THE PAULINE’S EPISTLE: 2 TIMOTHY 1-4