Matthew 9:2 And just then some people were carrying a paralysed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’
You might remember this healing story from the Gospels. Jesus was teaching and some people came to interrupt his teaching - they plopped their paralyzed friend on his bed right down in front of Jesus as if to say "What are you going to do about this, Jesus?"
What I find really interesting here is the word choice: when Jesus saw THEIR faith... not when Jesus saw HIS faith. There's something really powerful and inter-personal and community-oriented going on here. The healing and the kudos from our Savior aren't about the man's individual faith. They're about the faith of the community. Somehow the faith of the community is shared and built up together and is almost credited to the man lying on the bed. It's about community. Much more than we can even know or understand, it's about community. Jesus saw their faith. And Jesus sees YOUR (that's plural, people) faith.
Let me try that again and put on my southern accent: Jesus sees ALL Y'ALL'S faith. And your sins are forgiven.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us for worship Sunday at 8:30 and 11 with education at 9:45. Remember a congregational meeting at 10:00 to vote on a refinancing of the church's mortgage.
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