Eld Chew Chong Kiat

Introduction

Most people will moan and shun affliction that they regard as a plague or something undesirable. But God often sends His chosen blessings through afflictions.

1.   How Great a Blessing Affliction Brings to a Man's Soul!

We read of this paralytic who was helpless and powerless and had to be carried in his bed by four kind friends to see Jesus. He would be healed, but not until his friends brought him to Jesus. The great Physician of the soul and body saw him and granted him a far greater blessing than healing. Jesus forgave his sins. Would this man have sought Jesus if he was not paralysed? Without the paralysis, he might have lived and never sought Christ at all and died in his sin. The affliction brought the forgiveness of sin, the greatest blessing.

God often sends afflictions to humble us and remind us of our mortality. Our afflictions can turn to joy when they cause us to seek Jesus. This is not only for those who do not know Jesus but also for the children of God. The Psalmist says, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." (Psalm 119:71) Therefore let us never murmur under afflictions but rejoice. God promises that all things will work together for good to those who love Him and are called. Be patient and wait to see the good that afflictions will bring.

2.   How Blessed are the Diligent!

Blessings will not just “fall into our laps”. Diligence. The friends of the man, undeterred by the crowd, went upon the housetop, uncovered the roof, let down the bed to present him to Jesus before he was blessed. They found a way!

Does trouble stop you from seeking God? Or inconveniences, challenges or afflictions stop you from seeking God? Diligence precedes the prosperity of the soul. Blessings await them that draw near to God, in worship, devotion, keeping the Sabbath holy and in witnessing, but only the diligent will be blessed. Stop slothfulness and stop making excuses! Where there is a will, there is a way. If we fail in one way, we can try another and another. This is how an athlete and a fighter win a perishable crown, but for God’s children an incorruptible one. Do we desire blessings from God? Wrestle like Jacob and do not let go until we are blessed. Blessed are the diligent.

3.   How Jesus has the Power to Forgive Sins!

Our Lord’s words "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee" (Mark 2:5) was not spoken to provoke the Scribes and Pharisees. They were a wondrous truth. Jesus demonstrated His power to forgive sins by doing “the lesser” in raising the paralytic to walk again.

Jesus can forgive the sins of that man because shortly He would pay for his sins by dying on the cross. Have you turned to Jesus Christ in repentance and received the forgiveness of your sins?

4.   How Jesus is Kind and Compassionate! 

Twice in this passage, we see Jesus speaking most graciously to the afflicted man and addressing his needs. First, He addressed his need to be forgiven: "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." Next, He addressed his bodily needs: "Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house." (Mark 2:11) How doubly blessed was this afflicted man!

Christ is ever compassionate and full of loving-kindness. He came to save sinners from their sins. And when we are healed spiritually, we shall also be healed physically in glory. Amen.