LISTEN AND THEN DO

Time with Jesus - Friday, 08 June 2012

Hi all,

When Jesus asked the question, ⁹ “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? Mark 2:9 ESV What did He mean? Why would it be easier for Him to say it? Today’s meditation looks at this.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 08 June 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	LISTEN AND THEN DO
From round about 1960 and going backwards in time, People had signature tunes. Those who remember Bing Crosby may remember his signature tune was, “When The Blue Of The Night Meets The Gold Of The Day”. Vera Lynne sang her way through WW2 with, “We’ll Meet Again” “Flannigan and Allen sang, “Underneath The Arches”. Acker Bilk – “MY OLD MAN’S A DUSTMAN”. Dean Martin – “Memories are Made of This”. Today they seem to have gone out of fashion. Springbok Radio had several. e.g. “Consider Your Verdict”. Some were used to advertise their product. Do you remember, “Brush Your Teeth With Colgate”? How about the Jungle Oats advert? And of course K.T. A. T. (Kelly Tyres are Tough) and “Ramble Round Rand Radio”? Wonderful memories. Mine is called, “Set Mt Spirit Free That, I Might Worship Thee”. It was in my head continually when I was going through divorce. About a year later, while driving alone in my car I’m sure I heard the Lord say, “I did!” I suspect that for some strange reason, I’ve heard Satan’s signature tune. It’s called, “It’s all about me!” Jesus taught us the Angel’s tune. It called, “It’s all about you!” The difference between them approaches infinity. I would have said “infinite”; but only God is infinite. Jesus did have a signature tune. The nearest I can suggest is, “Whosoever Will May Come” It sounds good but it isn’t that one. As we will see shortly. Please don’t think I’m being irreverent when I say there are times when I feel “sorry” for Jesus! What do you do when you know you are the Son of God and nobody knows except a few close “family” members? Of course I’m looking at this from the perspective of the sin nature. I’ve sometimes wondered what I would do in His was in His position. The first person I would have appeared to would have been Caiaphas. I would have done it just to say, “Hello there!” In Mark 2 we have recorded the miracle of Jesus healing the paralysed man. He was let down through the roof so that Jesus could see him. It’s an amazing story. The man’s four friends tore open the roof to get him to Jesus. He saw their faith and told the man his sins were forgiven. The teachers of the law started singing their signature tune under their breath. “Who does He think He is? Only God can forgive sins”! Jesus knew it without hearing them. It was time to reveal His true identity. So He asked a question. Is it easier (for God) to forgive sins or heal?” Of course for God, both are just as easy. To make the point, Jesus showed them His true nature. (A bit like Clark Kent showing he was Superman) In this instance He was showing that the “Son of Man” was God Himself! He told the man to stand, pick up His mat and go home. The man did exactly that. Thereby Jesus demonstrated that He was able to do both. Jesus’ command was such that the man “jumped” to his feet. Being Who He is, Jesus’ command was irresistible. Something like commanding Lazarus to “Come forth!” Nothing in all creation can resist His command. When He said, “stand up, take up you mat and go home”, Lucifer and all his gang together is unable to prevent it happening. Even if the man didn’t want to get up, it would be impossible for him to stay on his mat. Could it be that the man jumped to his feet involuntarily? The Son of Man; the Son of God had spoken. It was “game over” Jesus’ signature tune is surely, “This Is Voice Of God; Do It!” Jim & Phyllida Strickland			8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so He asked them, "Why do you question this in your hearts? Mark 2:8 NLT 19 And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead--and so was Sarah's womb. 20 Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. Romans 4:19-20 NLT 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? Mark 2:9 ESV 23 "What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." Mark 9:23 NLT 18 Then Jesus came to them. He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18 NIrV 40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Mark 4:40 TNIV 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26 TNIV 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, "O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Matthew 16:8-9 ESV 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NLT	“Why do you question in your heart”? He knew the things they thought. Forgiveness comes from God alone. That’s what they had been taught. “What right had He to do this? On whose authority, Was he allowed to do so? He thinks He’s Deity!” Christ was smiling gently. The time had come to show, That He was God in overalls. He wanted them to know, That only God forgives our sin; and God alone can do, Miracles of healing for the likes of me and you. Anyone who does them both is surely God Most High. A fact that even Jewish Priests can’t actually deny. For God, both things were easy; not difficult to prove. And if He could do either, for he who couldn't move, Then surely they’d acknowledge that He was from above; The Most High God incarnate, Who’d come to them in love. They really couldn’t answer, for what He said was fact. Their intellect said “Blasphemy!” but they did not react. “All right then I will prove it. I’ll show the Son of Man, Is able to do both of them and certainly I can.” Then turning to the person, who still was lying prone; “Arise”, He said, “pick up your mat and you can take it home”. The man was surely startled. He jumped up on his feet. Picked up his mat and walked away. His healing was complete. There really wasn’t anything that anyone could do. They’d all observed a miracle directly in their view. The onlookers were gob-smacked. How could they take it in? This wasn’t just a healer. He could forgive man’s sin! I’m not sure what this says to you; but what it says to me, Is Jesus Christ of Nazareth was Who He claimed to be. And yet in spite of everything, He didn’t act alone. He only ever did the things which Father God had shown. His power He had limited. The Spirit did the work. This wasn’t just an oddity, to talk of in the Kirk. With faith we can move mountains. That’s what He said for sure. It is the Holy Spirit Who brings to men a cure. And if we will believe it, than then even you and me, Can do the things the Master did. And greater things we’ll see, Because we do not do them. The Spirit is the One. The miracles we read about, each one of them was done, By God the Holy Spirit, when God the Father said. If only we could get this truth deep down into the head, Then we would see the same results. Just listen and then do, The very things the Father says to folk like me and you. If we will shift the focus, from our ability, And getting all excited about our ministry. Once more the Holy Spirit, the Father AND the Son, Will do the works which They regard as needing to be done. Jim Strickland  Written 8th June 2012