Posts by John Longmire

Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5) [Part Two] Jesus Christ desires to forgive you of all your sin. But forgiveness is not a process; it is a gift, and you must come to Jesus to receive it. God has entrusted the authority to forgive to his Son. This is because Jesus was faithful to God, willing to endure the cross for us and die in our place. Now that Jesus paid the…

Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5) [Part One] Jesus Christ can forgive sins! Here is a man with two problems: he is paralyzed and he is a sinner. His paralysis is the outward problem; his sin is the inward one. Which will Jesus address first? It is important to note that the people watching this event assumed that the man’s paralysis was a direct result of his sin. But this is merely…

They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. (Mark 2:3-4) Here are true friends! The paralytic was obviously unable to get to Jesus by his own power; he had to rely upon the kindness and mercy of others. And the four…

When he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the Word to them. (Mark 2:1) This is the beginning of the story of the healing of the paralytic who was forgiven of all his sins. Jesus returned from his first missional journey in Galilee to Capernaum, the town he chose as his residence.…

Then he sternly warned him and sent him away at once, telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Yet he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him…

He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. Then a man with leprosy came to him and, on his knees, begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. (Mark 1:39-42) There are beautiful things in this story of healing. Leprosy is…

And he said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.” (Mark 1:37-38) Jesus was an itinerant preacher. People were excited about Jesus because he could heal them of their diseases and cast out demons, but Jesus saw himself as a preacher first. His primary role was to proclaim that the kingdom of God had come and to teach the values and principles of the kingdom.…

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying. Simon and his companions searched for him, and when they found him they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” (Mark 1:35-37) Jesus spent much time alone with God in prayer. To do this, he had to rise early and go off to a deserted place. I imagine he must have been both…

When evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick and demon-possessed. The whole town was assembled at the door, and he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. (Mark 1:32-34) Jesus healed everyone who came to him. In this case, Jesus didn’t simply heal a single individual; he healed an entire town! The…

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went into Simon and Andrew’s house with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. So he went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them. (John 1:29-31) Jesus Christ can heal physical illnesses. Simon Peter’s mother was sick with a fever and Jesus healed her, and…