What To Do in the Moment… 

At our staff commencement service last Thursday, I shared the following story from Mark 2:1-12. 

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralysed Man 

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralysed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 

Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralysed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” 

• Mark 2:1-12  

It is a powerful story because each of the characters must choose what to do in that moment. Jesus chooses initially not to do what everyone was expecting and heal the man instantly. Instead, he deals with what he sees as the more important issue, the man’s sin in his life, which has been getting between him and God. By forgiving, all those present realised Jesus was claiming to be God – a big no-no unless, of course, it happens to be true! Some of the teachers of the law got hung up on this, and even though they knew the Scriptures so well, they completely missed the fact that the long-awaited Messiah was right in front of them, even after he physically healed the man to prove his identity.  

The four men who helped chose to act in faith – and they were persistent – to the point of wrecking someone’s roof to get the paralysed man before Jesus. They saw their faith rewarded.  

And the paralysed man was hoping beyond all hope to be freed from his circumstances. After being forgiven, nothing had changed physically, and yet this was the greater healing to happen that day. This set him on the path to truly trusting Jesus and following God. Why? When he was told to get up, he had to believe he could do so, or he would not have moved. He would have stayed in his circumstances and missed out on the new life that Jesus was offering him.  

These people all responded in different ways in this story, just like us in our lives. This year will give us many situations where we must make choices about what to do in the moment.  

We could miss what is right in front of us, we could help someone deal with the real issue underlying their circumstances, we could go out of our way to be selfless and do something for others, or we could act in faith – following the words of Christ and the Bible – and receive something better that God has for us.  

I don’t always understand why God tells me to do things, but I do know that I can trust what he says – because he is good.  

Maybe this year, it is time for you to start listening more to his voice and find out what he has in store for you.  

ANNOUNCEMENT: Prayer Meeting 

There is a voluntary prayer meeting for staff each Wednesday morning from 7:45am to 8:15am in the Chaplain’s Office next to the Chapel.  

If, as a parent, you are around and would like to come along, just shoot me an email. We would love to have you join us. 

Mr Stephen Ward
CHAPLAIN