Jesus came home to Capernaum, and people gathered in such large numbers that no room was left in the place where He preached. Four men brought a paralyzed man to Jesus, but they could not get through the crowd to enter the house by the door. They carried him up to the roof and dug an opening above Jesus.  Then they lowered the mat their friend lay on. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, "Your sins are forgiven."

Teachers of the law sitting there, thought Jesus blasphemed God. They asked each other, "Who can forgive sins but God?"

Jesus knew their thoughts and asked them, "Which is easier to say to this man, 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Get up, take up your mat and walk'? I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So Jesus looked at the paralyzed man and said, "I tell you, get up, take up your mat and go home."

The man got up and walked. Everyone saw him and was amazed and praised God.

Think About It
The paralytic was a lucky man. He had friends who wanted him to walk so much that they  took him to Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, He knew they expected Him to heal their friend and He did. We all have friends who are spiritually paralyzed by fear, guilt, doubt, pain or maybe even hurt by something that happened at a church in their past. They feel trapped and cannot get to Jesus on their own. Are you faithful enough to share your faith and bring your friends to Jesus? They will benefit from your love and the love of God. The more you are faithful, the greater God rewards you with more faith.

Pray About It
Father God, it is not easy watching our friends suffer. Help us to be faithful to share your love and what you have done in our lives. Empower us as we step out to be faithful. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Jesus and the disciples were on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus took the Twelve aside to tell them what would happen to Him. "We are going up to Jerusalem, and I will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn me to death and will give me to the Gentiles, who will mock me and spit on me, flog me and kill me. Three days later I will rise."

Then (This 'then' is an important word.), James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him and requested Jesus to do whatever they asked. "What do you want?" Jesus said. 

They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."

"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"

The brothers said they could, and Jesus said they would, but the seats they requested were not His to grant. They belonged to those for whom they' had been prepared. Jesus knew the brothers wanted positions of authority in His Kingdom. He said to them, "Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all, for even I did not come to be served but to serve and give my life as a ransom for many."

Think About It
Broken hearted, Jesus told His friends how He would suffer and die. On the heels of this announcement, James and John step forward to ask Jesus for important positions in His Kingdom. Jesus had rightly named these strong-willed men "Sons of Thunder." I would like to think the two discussions in this passage are not connected, but the brothers' request begins with the word "then." This one word brings the two subject matters together in a single event. I'm amazed.

Pray About It
Our Lord and Father, teach us to be humble, to realize that all glory and honor go to you and not us. Help us to serve You in selfless ways to bring you glory and to seek no recognition for ourselves. In Jesus' name, Amen.