Monday - The Gospel According To Mark

Welcome to Daily Prayer. This week we are looking at five stories from Mark 2 through chapter 3 verse 6. We are looking at four series of questions and what they reveal about Jesus and his mission. Today we look at the story of the paralyzed man and these two questions: Why does this man speak like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?

As we begin our meditation today, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the Lord. 

Father, thank you for making us. For speaking to us. For loving us. Lord, there is no one like you. Give me eyes to see you. Give me ears to hear you Lord. Deepen my faith in you. Lord, I give everyone and everything to you.

O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare you praise. 

A Scripture reading from Mark 2:1-12:

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

A Prayer of Adoration:

Lord Jesus, you are the merciful Son of Man. You preached the Word everywhere you went. You were sowing the seed. You spoke with authority because of who you are and your relationship to the Father. You perceive the questions of our hearts. 

This passage shows that you see and care about faith. This passage also reveals that you have authority to heal and to forgive sins for those who come to you. 

Jesus, you are not just any son of man but the one prophesied in Daniel 7 coming on the clouds with authority to rule. Only God can forgive sins and you forgive sins. 

You proved your authority by healing his body. We join with the crowd and stand amazed. We glorify you as the one who can speak the word and cancel our debts and heal our bodies. For that Lord, I adore you. 

A Prayer of Confession:

Lord, these friends took this man on a roof and lowered him so that he could get to Jesus. Forgive me for turning away when things are in my way or difficult. Forgive me for knowing the condition of people around me and not bringing them to you for deliverance. Forgive me when I question your words in my heart and I don’t have the right spirit. Lord, give me a tender heart. 

A Prayer of Trust:

Lord, this passage shows that you can do the impossible. I believe that you not only deal with the visible things of our lives but you deal with the deeper issues. You came to restore us and make us whole. I trust that you know what we need and you have he power and authority to do it. Jesus, you do what only God can do and I believe in you. I receive the good news today that you have forgiven me of all my sins. I look to you for life. 

A Prayer of Intercession:

Lord, I want to be like the friends in this story. Compel us to be like these friends. 

Lord, would you come to those who are struggling. Those experiencing the pain of this fallen sinful world. We bring them to you now. Those who need your forgiveness. We bring them to you now. And lord we bring before you all the families that are going to be involved in night to shine this weekend. Lord touch them. Heal families. Heal individuals. Body, mind, spirit. Lord, for the areas where they have been left out. The ways that they have been unseen. Lord, would they come to know you as the one who sees them, who loves them, who cares for them, and who heals.

Lord, we know that what you do in us and for us is bigger than us. Give us a bigger picture of your purposes. Give us faith to trust what you say. Give us love for our friends that will motivate us to do inconvenient things because we know what you can do. 

As we hear the Scripture again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Lord may want to highlight from todays passage. You may want to circle it or write it down in your Scripture journal. 

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

And now Our Weekly Passage to Memorize together:

Mark 2:17

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Let’s pray the The Lord’s Prayer together as we close:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever...amen