…“Son, your sins are forgiven.
Mark 2:5
I wasn’t exactly a good student of economics back in my days as a college student. However, one thing from that economics class stuck with me all my life. In economics, we were told that there is a big difference between our ‘needs’ and our ‘wants’. Needs are things that are essential for human survival, while wants are things we may desire. Wants may be helpful or make life easier, but unless we would die without them, they are not considered needs. Consequently, we came up with the phrase ‘what you need is not always what you want’.
So, why are we learning economics again? Because Jesus did something in the event of the healing of the paralyzed man that explained this ideology perfectly. Remember we started yesterday considering the struggles of the friends of this paralytic who, against all odds, carry their paralyzed companion to Jesus with an unshakeable belief in His healing power.
Just imagine their disappointment when they finally got their friend to Jesus – the first words that escape His lips are unexpected yet profound: “Son, your sins are forgiven.” I can literally hear these frustrated friends yelling in their mind ‘No Jesus, we really don’t care about forgiveness, he needs healing; he needs a miracle please do something”. The immediate focus on spiritual healing before addressing the physical ailment challenges conventional expectations. Jesus prioritises the state of the man’s soul over his physical condition, revealing a fundamental aspect of His mission—to bring salvation and reconciliation to humanity.
“Your Sins Are Forgiven” carries a timeless message that resonates with us today. In the pursuit of holistic well-being, Jesus places a premium on the condition of our souls. While He desires our physical healing, material prosperity, and overall well-being, His ultimate concern is the salvation of our souls. No wonder he says “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36 KJV).
Think about it for a minute, although it is impossible for any single man to gain the whole world, Jesus says that even if it were possible, it would still be a terrible bargain for your soul. So, while presenting our physical and material needs before Jesus, let us not forget to prioritise the state of our souls. Let’s meditate on that fact for a few minutes today as we go before the Lord in a prayer of consecration.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, your word says that “…bread won’t feed men’s souls: obedience to every word of God is what we need.” (Matthew 4:4 TLB). And today’s passage also shows how important my soul is. Please help me to feed my soul as a matter of priority as much as I depend on you for my physical needs.
