Beyond the Thorns: From Divine Justice to Redemption, Ezekiel 28:20-26

 

Beyond the Thorns: From Divine Justice to Redemption, Ezekiel 28:20-26

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The Thorns 20-24

Divine Justice

Divine Redemption 25-26

What's your biggest pain...(don't say your spouse :-)

What's your biggest stressor? Source of friction? Burr under your saddle? What makes you cry out, “Dear God, please, bring this to an end.”?

Whatever it is, can be summed up in a word.

The word is: Thorn.

Thorns are a result of the curse.

You're feeling the friction of living in a broken world with a broken system.

That is how the folks in our text were feeling 2,600 years ago. The people of God, were largely exiled from the land of God. Their nation, Israel, was surrounded by nations that were laughing at their pain.

Their life was a bed of roses, only the roses were gone and only the thorns remained. 

But God shows up and turns the Thorns of Justice on the prickling briers, then, He wraps His people in a thorn-proof promise of Redemption.

Let’s turn to Ezekiel 28:20-26 and we’ll look at that promise.

Beyond the Thorns: From Divine Justice to Redemption.

As we drop into our text, to establish context, here is the current lay of the land.

From Ezekiel 25 to 32, God pronounces judgment against seven nations, (thorns): Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt. We’ve already studied the first five.

The number seven represents perfection, completeness, and totality.

God does nothing by accident.

By structuring this section around exactly seven nations, God is sending an unshakeable, unmistakable message: No matter how chaotic, dark, or hostile the world looks, Divine Justice and Redemption are coming.

Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Okay, let’s dive in by reading the first four verses of our text.

The Thorns, Ezekiel 28:20-24:

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ²¹ “Son of man, set your face toward Sidon, and prophesy against her, ²² and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“Behold, I am against you, O Sidon;
I will be glorified in your midst;
And they shall know that I am the Lord,
When I execute judgments in her and am hallowed in her.
²³ For I will send pestilence upon her,
And blood in her streets;
The wounded shall be judged in her midst
By the sword against her on every side;
Then they shall know that I am the Lord.

²⁴ “And there shall no longer be a pricking brier or a painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who are around them, who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord God.”

 Ruh Roh.

You know you’re in big trouble when the Creator of the universe tells His prophet to give you a prophesy and it begins with, “Behold I am against you...”

At that point, your wealth, your walls, and armies are completely meaningless.

Make no mistake, this is not the heart of the Lord. He doesn’t enjoy judgement, but He’s Holy and Just so sometimes, He must.

He’d rather say what He told Moses to tell Aaron to say:

Numbers 6:24-26.

The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
²⁶ The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” ’

But in 586 BC after Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, burned the temple and killed or took captive the survivors, instead of showing pity, Sidon and Tyre, and the other surrounding thorny nations were glad and gloated.

They weren’t exactly hubs of holiness and their influence on Israel was immense.

The maritime stronghold of Tyre sat a mere 12 miles north of Israel's ancient northern border, while its sister city Sidon anchored just 25 miles up the coast.

That means, the primary centers of Baal worship and pagan perversity weren't across an ocean—but were toxic, indoctrinating, superpowers in Israel's front yard.

Archaeological excavations reveal the footprint of Sidon was only about 40 acres (only about 1/3 the size of Tyre). Yet, despite its tiny physical footprint, its economic footprint was massive. It was an intense, heavily fortified maritime trader, following in the footsteps of its big sister city Tyre.

It accumulated massive stores of silver, gold, and the world-famous cedars of Lebanon.

Generations prior, King Solomon used cedars of Lebanon for much of the temple. The structure, the interior, the main altar, came from the cedars of Lebanon. Then, the interior was overlaid with gold. (1 Kings 6:9-20).

Imagine that. The wood that lined the dwelling place of God’s Presence, came from sinful Sidon.

Sidon was a primary port for pagan idolatry. King Ahab of Israel married wicked Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, King of Sidon (1 Kings 16:31). This evil alliance imported the vile worship of Baal and Asherah into the heart of Israel, perverting the nation's relationship with God for generations.

Perhaps that’s why God called them a “pricking brier” and “a painful thorn”.

Israel failed to heed the warning from way back in Numbers 33:55:

"But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides."

Think about this:
Those you let stay in your life, your nation, that shouldn’t be there, will be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides.

For hundreds of years, Sidon was indeed a physical and spiritual thorn in Israel’s side, pulling them into sin.

Thus, God is just, so He must, deal with the thorns.

He did so by pestilence, blood, and the sword (see verse 23).

HIStory, like always, confirms every Word of God is True. Sidon was crushed by the Babylonians, the Persians, and eventually by Alexander the Great. Just as the Lord had said.

However, notice the repetitive phrase that echoes through verses 22, 23, 24, and 26: “They shall know that I am the Lord.”

That’s the goal of the Lord. That all shall know Him from the least to the greatest (Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 8:11). All will. Some will know Him as He wants to be known, as Savior and Lord. Then, sadly, others will only know Him as Judge and Lord.

God's judgment is not petty or vindictive; His Holiness demands, Divine Justice.

About six centuries after Ezekiel penned these words, Jesus stood before the crowds of Galilee and brought the memory of the ancient, pagan cities of Tyre and Sidon back to life:

"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you." Matthew 11:21-22 (and Luke 10:13-14).

Think about that statement. Sidon was a capital of witchcraft, Baal worship, and fleshly pride. God judged them heavily for it.

Yet Jesus says that the judgment facing people who hear the Gospel and reject it will be far more severe than the judgment faced by Sidon.

Why?

Because Sidon sinned in spiritual darkness, but cities like Chorazin and Bethsaida rejected the very Son of God standing right there in the midst of them.

Jesus promises us, whenever two or more are gathered in His name, “There I AM, in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20.

God holds every soul accountable to the light they have been given.

“To whom much is given, much is required” Luke 12:48.

God sees the thoughts and intents of each and every heart and holds in the balance, Divine Justice.

Speaking of Divine Justice, let’s zoom out to see and hear how the Words of our text echo all the way to today.  

If you look at a modern day map you’ll notice the thorns that despise Israel are experiencing what prophetically speaking might be, ever increasing birth pains of Divine Justice.

Tyre and Sidon, modern day Lebanon, are battling economic collapse, hyperinflation, political and military upheaval from Hezbollah (an Iranian proxy terrorist organization).

Speaking of Iran:  Historically, the thorns around Israel have relied on regional support from others. Today it’s the same. Iran (ancient Persia) supports, trains, deploys, the thorns around Israel.

Iran (ancient Persia) is part of the coalition that will attack Israel in our future (perhaps, not so distant future) as described in Ezekiel 38-39.

Iran has been the primary proxy puppet master for terrorists.

Now for the very interesting part.

Just as ancient Israel was ringed by hostile briers and thorns, (Tyre, Sidon, Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia,, Egypt), today she is ringed in the same locations, by the same demons, with the same goals, only with different names.

North: Hezbollah.

East: Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

West: Hamas.

South: Houthi.

 They all are extensions of Iran, hired guns. Terrorists for hire.

Names change, people die, the demons remain.

They call it the Axis of Resistance.

Really, they are, the Axis of Evil.

THEY ARE NO MATCH FOR THE ALMIGHTY.

Lately, God is using America, like Nebuchadnezzar, to hammer out judgement on the pricking briers and painful thorns.

Today, Iran is in worse shape than Lebanon (that flows down to its proxies). Crush the head and the serpent dies. An object lesson. A foreshadow of things to come.

Israel on the other hand. All around Israel the thorns are shaking, but against all odds, Israel is standing, growing, thriving.

If you look at the statistics, Israel is less than one-sixth of one percent the size of the Arab nations surrounding her.

By every law of mathematics, geography, and population, she should be completely swallowed up; swept from the river to the sea, as the ignorant demonized thorny pricks love to chant.

Yet, Israel stands as the undisputed superpower of the Middle East.

Why?

Because HIStory has proven that NOTHING can override God’s Promise. No military might can wipe God’s people or plan off the map.

When you calculate the size of Israel (roughly 8,019 square miles) against the land mass of the 22 Arab nations (approximately 5.3 million square miles), the exact math reveals that Israel is just a tiny sliver: 0.15 % of Arab land mass.

Arab nations are about 650 times larger than the state of Israel.

The most striking disparity since David faced Goliath with nothing but a sling and a stone.

Despite this tiny footprint, secular military analysts, historians, and political scientists consistently classify Israel as the preeminent technological and military superpower of the region.

They say this for three distinct reasons:

Qualitative Military Edge (QME): Through advanced air defense systems (like the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow networks), state-of-the-art cyber warfare capabilities, and highly integrated intelligence frameworks, Israel projects disproportionate tactical power.

Economic and High-Tech Might: Israel functions as a global "Silicon Valley" with such an advanced high-tech economy that it transforms its lack in physical size and population into an elite innovative asset.

Strategic Alliances: Its deeply rooted strategic, diplomatic, and intelligence partnerships with western powers (USA) reinforce its unshakeable regional power.

But we know, all that stuff is just the manifestation of the Real Reason:

Because about 4,000 years ago God made a promise to a man name Abraham. And God never breaks a promise. Genesis 12:1-3.

Speaking of promises, that brings us to our closing promise: Divine Redemption.

Divine Redemption, Ezekiel 28:25-26

‘Thus says the Lord God: “When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and am hallowed in them in the sight of the Gentiles, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to My servant Jacob. ²⁶ And they will dwell safely there, build houses, and plant vineyards; yes, they will dwell securely, when I execute judgments on all those around them who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God.” ’ ”

A Global Gathering. A Family Reunion.  A Divine Redemption.

When we track HIStory, we see God fulfilling this gathering in stages:

539 BC (The Decree of Cyrus): Following the fall of Babylon, the Persian king Cyrus issues a royal decree allowing the initial return of a Jewish remnant to rebuild their walls and temple (Ezra 1:1–4, 2 Chron. 36:22–23, Isaiah 44:28–45:4,13).

458 BC (Ezra’s Aliyah): Generations later, the scribe Ezra leads a massive second wave of return focused entirely on temple rebuilding, spiritual reform, and restoring the law of God to the land (Ezra 7).

1882–1903: After nearly two millennia of global wandering from Rome's destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, God begins stirring the hearts of the Jewish people to return to their homeland. Following severe persecution and pogroms, tens of thousands of Jews began buying back (NOT STEALING) their own land and returning home.  

1917 (The Balfour Declaration): In a historic political shift, international recognition is granted to the Jewish people, legally acknowledging their right to establish a national home in their ancestral land.

May 14, 1948 (The Rebirth of a Nation): In a single day, fulfilling the amazing prophecy of Isaiah 66:8, Israel declares its independence, reborn as a sovereign nation to facilitate an unprecedented sovereign gathering.

Who has heard such a thing?
Who has seen such things?
Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?
Or shall a nation be born at once?
For as soon as Zion was in labor,
She gave birth to her children.

Post-1989 (Soviet Union Aliyah): Following the collapse of the Iron Curtain, the gates swing open freeing millions of Jews to go home.

Today (Global Homecoming): From the four corners of the earth, Aliyah continues to break records as communities face rising pressures, serving as an active, visible display of covenant fulfillment right before our eyes.

But, for the Grand Finale...

Beyond the thorns.

Where God gathers the roses and burns the thorns.

Revelation 21:1-5

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ² Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 

⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

***Divine Redemption***

A Global Gathering. A Family Reunion.  A Divine Redemption.

This is how we closed last week and this week and all week between the world celebrated this very thing in the Feast of Tabernacles, which ended sundown on Friday.

Where God gathers his people and dwells with them.

Where there truly is a happily ever after!!!    

Let's pray.

Lord Jesus thank You for the Divine timing of this message, revealing Your Divine Justice that removes the thorns and offers Divine Redemption. Cause us, and all those You’ve given us, to hear and heed this Word, so we will be included in Your Divine Gathering, that glorious family reunion, where we will be with You and love You, forever and ever.

Amen.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

 

Mark 2:5-12, More Than a Miracle: He Looked Beyond My Faults

Mark 2:5-12,

More Than a Miracle:

He Looked Beyond My Faults

We pick up where we left off at the end of Mark 2:4.

In Capernaum, Israel. The little fishing village of about 1,500 people, on 15 acres, on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.

We're in the home of Peter and Andrew, a couple fishermen, in training to be fishers of men. 

The place is packed with people, standing room only.

Jesus is about to heal a paralyzed man.

However, the message of this miracle looks beyond any physical fault, or need, and points repeatedly to Eternity.

To refresh our memory, let’s begin reading at Mark 2:1.

And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. ² Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. ³ Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. ⁴ And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

When the four faithful friends hit the wall of people God must’ve given them a Divine Redneck Anointing.

So, instead of saying, “Sorry, buddy, we tried, but we’re too late, the place is packed ain’t no way we’re getting in...” Instead, they got a grin and said:

“Hey ya’ll, watch this! Let’s rip off the roof!”

As they tore a hole in the roof big enough to lower their friend, the folks below got a head full of sticks and thatch and dirt and mud.

Obviously interrupting Jesus’s teaching.

They didn’t care about being polite, socially acceptable, or politically correct. They just knew their friend needed Jesus and come hell or high water they were getting him, to Him.

We need friends like that.

We need to be friends like that.

That is what True intercessory faith looks like.

Bulldog determined, messy, costly, sweaty.

Love with skin in the game.

That's the God kind of Love.

Jesus notices that measure of faith.  

⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

Amazing... grace.

Jesus did not rebuke them for interrupting the Word of God.

He did not condemn them for destroying Andrew and Peter’s property.

He certainly did not fear them and shout, “Somebody call 911!”

Jesus looked beyond their faults.

Reminds me of the beautiful worship song written by Dottie Rambo, He Looked Beyond My Faults.

Jesus saw those roof ripper off-ers, those sermon disturbers, and looked beyond their fault, their deed, even their physical need.

And ours, our weakness, our sickness, our life full of screw ups...

He looks beyond it all, and still loves us, so much.

He saw their faith.

Knowing Jesus, He might’ve even thought, “Cool, I can dust off my old Carpenter skills and help fix this roof when we’re done.” (Let’s ask Him when we see Him in heaven—don’t let me forget).

Okay, now make a note, our text says: When Jesus saw their faith (It doesn’t say, their need).

Their need is what activated their faith.

Their faith sprang into action.

Then they got all redneck and said, “Hey ya’ll watch this!” and they ripped off the roof.

That’s when Jesus saw, and was impressed by, and pleased by, their faith.

Not when they thought about it, talked about it, dreamed about it, BUT WHEN THEY DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Then is when, Jesus acknowledged their faith.

He saw their faith by their actions... their works.

James 2:14-16 repeatedly reports, “Faith without works is dead.

¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?

Can faith save him?

¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

¹⁷ Thus also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.”

Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well.

Even the demons believe—and tremble!

²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. (Genesis 15:6, 22:9-19, 2 Chronicles 20:7, Isaiah 41:8, Hebrews 11:17).

²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

²⁵ Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? (Joshua 2:9, 6:23, Heb. 11:31).

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Dear Church, we must put feet to our faith, or our faith is dead.

So, let’s ask ourselves:

Do I want to please God?

Then ask:

Have I pleased God, this week?

Did I do anything, take any action, do any works, that took faith?

Did I intentionally, purposefully, do anything to promote the Kingdom of God, to carry someone closer to Christ?

You might think, Well I would, but what can I do?

Great question. We’re abundantly blessed these days, because God has made exercising our faith and spreading His Good News extremely easy. But beware, with blessing comes responsibility. To whom much is given much is required. (Luke 12:48).

Okay, here’s a few things you can do today (we don’t have tomorrow) to grow your faith muscles, help the Kingdom of God and most importantly, please God.

Pray with a stranger. Ask a stranger, or anybody, if they have any prayer requests. Then, pray, then and there, out loud.

That takes faith.

That pleases God.

Plant Seed. Take a book or Bible or plaque or anything from your Church Resource Table, (your storehouse) and give it to someone, and invite them to Church.

Spread Seed. Go to your Church Facebook page and click “Share” on every blog, You Tube and Facebook post, for each of the sermons.

Doing just that one thing will make a faith statement. You’ll be preaching multiple sermons to multiple people without saying a word. You’ll be spreading the Word of God as Seed to every one of your social media friends and family.

Plus, you’ll be taking a faith strengthening, God pleasing step of faith.

Especially if you’re nervous about offending someone.

They’ll be much more offended if you stay nice and sweet and quiet while they slip into the lake of fire to spend eternity screaming, “Why didn’t you say something?!?!”

Jesus said, in Mark 9:43-48:

And if thy hand offend thee (causes you to sin), cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: ⁴⁴ Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

⁴⁵ And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

⁴⁶ Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

⁴⁷ And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

⁴⁸ Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Dear Church, we must live with eternity in view. This life is but a vapor, so we must be active and diligent in our faith. We must work our faith, or our faith is dead.

Dead faith is no faith and without faith it is impossible to please God.

Jesus saw, and was impressed by, and pleased by, their faith, in action.

FAITH PLEASES GOD.

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

We must come to God.

We must come in faith.

We must come diligently.

That pleases God and reaps rewards from God.

Jesus not only saw the active, living, faith of the friends, but also the forgiving faith of the paralytic.

How do we know?

Because, He said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

First, Jesus used the warm, familial word: Son: teknon (child, offspring). In context it was also used to address adults (male or female) as a term of pastoral affection, endearment, or spiritual fatherhood.

“Your sins are forgiven” reveals the beautiful condition of the paralytic’s heart. And probably explains why he had such faithful friends.

For Jesus to say, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” means the paralytic’s heart was clean, he wasn’t holding any unforgiveness.

Which was saying a lot. A poor paralytic probably had a lot of forgiving to do.

The people of that day would’ve scorned him as a sinner, thinking that’s why he was crippled.

Did he blame God?

Himself?

Who was to blame for him being lame?

(JUST A THOUGHT: Another question to ask when we get to heaven. Did he get crippled because he fell off a roof? Did Jesus heal him then ask him to help fix the roof? To face his fear and get right back on the horse that bucked him off.)

All we know for sure is that the paralytic wasn’t holding any unforgiveness.

How do we know that?

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

²³ Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents ($6-10 Billion dollars). ²⁵ But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. ²⁶ The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ ²⁷ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

²⁸ “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii (3 mo. wages); and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ ³⁰ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.

³¹ So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. ³² Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ³³ Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’

 ³⁴ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

³⁵ “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Additionally, check out what immediately follows The Lord’s Prayer:

Matthew 6:12-15
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. ¹³ And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

¹⁴ “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Therefore, we know this paralyzed man won the battle against unforgiveness.

Thus, Jesus said, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

Perhaps the paralytic needed to hear he was forgiven, more than he needed to be healed.

Perhaps he thought (like the scorning crowd), he was being punished by God for his sin.

Perhaps he needed to hear he was forgiven to be able to receive his healing.

Perhaps, this is another question for heaven (are you making a list?).

For sure, some of the listeners needed to hear it.

⁶ And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,

 ⁷ “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

They were right. Only God alone can forgive sins.

And that’s the point.

Jesus was, little by little, planting Seeds of undeniable evidence, that He indeed is the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah.

He’s, our example. We’re to do the same. Little by little, planting Seed pointing to Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life, the ONLY Way to Heaven. John 14:6.

Remember, He recently healed a leper (Mark 1:41), and everybody knew only God could heal leprosy.

Now, He says, “Your sins are forgiven” and everybody knew only God can forgive sins.

Socially acceptable or not, politically correct or not, ready or not, Jesus continues to plant Seeds toward Eternity. To show them He is, the I AM.

But, sadly, no matter how much Truth is shown to some, they willingly reject the Truth and believe the life. (Romans 1:28, 2 Thessalonians 2:11).

Nevertheless, Jesus doesn’t quit trying to reach them.  

⁸ But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?

Yet again He provides another undeniable proof of His Divinity, because only God, can read the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Then, without missing a beat He immediately sets them up for another lesson in Truth.

⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?

So, you think only God can forgive sins and it is blasphemy for Me to utter those words.

You think anybody can say, “Your sins are forgiven,” because there’s no way to prove it.

But, to say, “Arise, take up your bed and walk,” now that’s more difficult because the proof and Truth will be judged immediately.

Okay...

¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”

Calling Himself, “Son of Man” is another Eternal Seed.

It’s a Messianic reference to Daniel 7:13-14.

“I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
¹⁴ Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.

The scribes understood this referred to the Messiah.

Then, before the grand finale of healing the paralytic, Jesus makes it abundantly clear, that the purpose is so they, (the doubting scribes) may know that He has power on earth to forgive sins. And, as we’ve already established, everybody knew, only God has power to forgive sins.

Then, while those words were still echoing in the air...

—He said to the paralytic, ¹¹ “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

 ¹² Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Immediately, he arose! The Power and Authority of Jesus, is undeniable. All were amazed and glorified God.

That’s the goal. Then, and now. That ALL will arise and glorify God.

In closing notice one last thing.

Jesus told the man to carry the very thing that previously represented his poverty and paralysis. But in that moment, it was transformed from a monument of misery into a memorial of God's mercy.

When Jesus looked at him and his friends, He didn’t see roof wrecking redneck rebels and a cripple. No, He saw, the faithful and the forgiven.

His amazing grace, looked beyond their faults, and saw their Eternal Need.

He does the same for you and me.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for looking beyond our faults, our sins, which are many. Thank You for seeing us for who we can be, who we should be, not for who we are, or who we used to be.

Thank You, for having more faith in us, than us.

Help us Lord, no, more than that, cause us Lord, to put feet to our faith. To work and walk out our faith, with bulldog determined, messy, costly, sweaty, Love with skin in the game. Do not let us be complacent and lazy. Kick us off our spiritual couch and put us to work, planting Seed, spreading Seed, making heaven crowded. So that, of all those You’ve given us to harvest, none land in the lake of fire.

Thank You.

We trust You, and love You, forever.

Amen.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.