Scripture to Read: Luke 5:20–26
Since we know the determination of the friends of the man with leprosy, we read this today in Luke 5:20–26, “Seeing their faith, He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven you.’ 21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, ‘Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?’ 22 But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, ‘Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But, so 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, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.’ 25 Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. 26 They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.’” Jesus continued to prove He was God in an earthly body. The scribes and Pharisees would have known the prophecies about the Messiah, but they were so prideful that their hardened hearts blinded them to who Jesus was. Just the opposite was true of the men who brought their friend to Jesus. Their determination to bring their friend to Jesus proved they had faith in Jesus. The religious leaders refused to see who Jesus was: God the Son who has the authority to forgive sins.
Challenge & Application
What was the stumbling block for the religious leaders that day, and what’s the stumbling block for most lost people today?
What must we do since we know who Jesus is, and how does that affect us daily?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!