Powerpoint Pictures: Firefighter; Riot Police; Swimming; Running; Glass of Raw Eggs; Plate of Snails; Someone taking a penalty; Someone saving a penalty; Chinese Writing; Russian Writing

Which do you think is easier?  Being a firefighter or riot policeman; Swimming 5km or Running a marathon; Drinking a glass of raw eggs or eating a plate of snails; Scoring a penalty or saving a penalty; Learning Chinese or learning Russian.

Which is easier? is a question that Jesus asks in the next event of Jesus’ life that we are going to look, where Jesus shows us who He is.

Jesus was teaching in a packed house when suddenly He hears a noise coming from above.  Bit of dust and debris then start to fall, before light streams into the room.  A paralysed man is then lowered down, through the hole in the roof, to Jesus.

Why do you think this man was brought to Jesus?  To be healed.

But Jesus says, “Your sins are forgiven”.  Immediately the religious leaders started grumbling, “Only God can forgive sins.”

Jesus knowing what they were thinking asks a question.  “Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?” (Mark 2:9)

Of course the easier thing is to say that someone’s sins are forgiven, because no-one can see if it’s come true or not.

“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”  He got up, took his mat and walked out…” (Mark 2:10-12)

Jesus healed the man to show He can forgive sins because He is God.  So here’s another signpost pointing to who Jesus is!