Welcome once again to another edition of the Weekend Sermon. It is good to be able to share the word of the Lord with you again this week.
This was another good week at work. I am very thankful to the Lord for allowing me to have this job. So far, everyone has been very easy to get along with. I am also thankful to the Lord for healing me of a minor health problem I had last week.
I heard on the news that there is a serious outbreak of the Ebola virus in the African nation of Guinea. Please pray that the Lord would heal those who are afflicted with this disease. Pray that the virus will not spread. Also, please pray for Doctors Without Borders and the other organizations in Guinea who are working to help the people. Let's make Guinea our prayer focus nation this week, and pray that the Gospel will reach many people in this land.
Last week, we began a series of messages on the miracles that Jesus performed. We looked at the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. This is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels. It shows the power of the Lord and the Lord's compassion. We are to be likewise compassionate and care for others.
Today, we turn out attention to Jesus' healing of a man with paralysis. In Matthew's account of this miracle, some men bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus so that Jesus might make him well. Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgive."
When the religious leaders heard Jesus say this, they accused Him of blasphemy in their thoughts. But Jesus knew what they were thinking. Jesus told the sick man to arise and take his mat and go home. The man was immediately healed. He arose from the mat and returned home with his friends.
What can we learn from this account from the ministry of the Lord Jesus? The first thing that I notice in this account is the action of the man's friends. When their friend was in need, they sought to help him in any way possible. That is what good friends do. In order to be a good friend, you have to be there for another person in the good times and in the difficult times. You have to do all that is within your power to help a friend.
These men knew that their friend needed to be made well, and they believed that Jesus could heal their friend's paralysis. They brought their friend to Jesus. This is the best way that we can be a friend to someone today. We truly show ourselves to be someone's friend when we share with them the love of Jesus. When we tell our friends about Jesus, we introduce them to the one who is the ultimate friend. Jesus is the friend that sticks closer than a brother.
This miracle also demonstrates the divinity of Jesus. Jesus knew what the thoughts of the religious leaders were. This is an attribute and power of God. Jesus had the same divine powers on earth as He has had for all of eternity as the Second Person of the Holy Trinity.
Because He was God come in human flesh, Jesus had the authority to forgive people's sins. Jesus is the only way of forgiveness and salvation. Any person who wants to be free from sin and who wants to be reconciled to God must come through Jesus Christ. He is the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father accept through Jesus.
Jesus completely healed the paralyzed man, but the greatest miracle that that man received that day was the forgiveness of his sins. That is the greatest miracle that any of us can every experience in our lives as well. This miracle of forgiveness and grace is available to any person who calls upon the name of Jesus in repentance and faith.
If you have never come to Jesus and received forgiveness from your sins, I hope that you will put your faith and trust in the crucified and risen Lord this very day.
Next Wednesday, I will definitely have a book review. On Friday, we will look at another one of the miracles performed by the Lord. May God bless you. Amen.
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