Psalm 103

 1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;        all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,        and forget not all his benefits-

 3 who forgives all your sins        and heals all your diseases,

 4 who redeems your life from the pit        and crowns you with love and compassion,

  5 who satisfies your desires with good things

       so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

 6 The LORD works righteousness        and justice for all the oppressed.

 7 He made known his ways to Moses,        his deeds to the people of Israel:

 8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding

in love.  9 He will not always accuse,      nor will he harbour his anger forever;

 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

 12 as far as the east is from the west,

       so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 13 As a father has compassion on his children,   so the LORD has

compassion on those who fear him;

 14 for he knows how we are formed,        he remembers that we are dust.

 15 As for man, his days are like grass,

       he flourishes like a flower of the field;

 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no

more.

 17 But from everlasting to everlasting

       the LORD's love is with those who fear him,

     and his righteousness with their children's children-

 18 with those who keep his covenant        and remember to obey his precepts.

  19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

 20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,        you mighty ones who do his bidding,        who obey his word.

 21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.

 22 Praise the LORD, all his works        everywhere in his dominion.        Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Mark 2Mark 2Jesus Heals a Paralytic Jesus Heals a Paralytic

  1A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the 1A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. people heard that he had come home.

2So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside 2So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. the door, and he preached the word to them.

3Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of 3Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. them.

4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they 4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.

5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."sins are forgiven."

  6Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 6Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,

7"Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive 7"Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" sins but God alone?"

  8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking 8Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?

9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?

10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic,

11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."

12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This 12He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"anything like this!"

It’s good to have friends because friends help each other

The friends of the sick man helped him by bringing him to Jesus

It wasn’t easy they had to go through the roof

We should want to bring our friends to Jesus

We can do that by

•Praying for them

•By talking to them about Jesus

Jesus sees their faith and responds

He has compassion on the man

He has power to heal him and make him walk

But he sees a greater need and offers forgiveness of sins

We all need to be forgiven; it is everyone’s greatest need..

in this life … and in the next

But who can forgive sins?

A doctor can help heal people but can’t forgive sins

A priest can pray and talk about God but can’t forgive sins

Only God can forgive sins; Only God has authority to do this

But it’s Jesus who forgives the man’s sins, and then heals him.

So who is Jesus and where does his authority come from?

So Jesus must be God,

I’nnit?