Perspective on Priorities

April 25, 2025 | Read and Think About Mark 2:1-2

John the Baptist was sent “to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord,” which he did through baptism and urging people to repent and seek forgiveness from sin.  Now, months later, the effects of John the Baptist’s preaching are reverberating still.  And Jesus made sin and forgiveness - the pillars of John’s ministry - the major themes of this miraculous healing.

This account makes me think about priorities.  What’s the most important thing?  The very first thing Jesus did or said, as recorded, was to tell the man his sins are forgiven.  Perhaps while John the Baptist was working, no one could carry the paralyzed man the dozens of miles to the wilderness where John had preached.  Have you ever felt you missed out on something extremely important through no fault of your own?  Jesus was assuring the paralyzed man that he was forgiven, and he didn’t miss out.

It leads us to ask, which is more important – earthly health or eternal health.  The man in Mark 2 was paralyzed, unable to go anywhere without the help of friends. Of course he needed physical healing.  Just as I need God’s help, and you need God’s help, when we face loss, injury, hardship, infirmity, and many other kinds of troubles and trials.

The healing of the paralytic reminds us that our eternal need - the need to be forgiven of our sins  – is the most important of all.  In Mark 2, Jesus met both the man’s eternal need and his physical earthly need.  The man was forgiven, and now he also could walk!

I wish I understood why some prayers are answered on this earth, but not all.  I know I’ll think about it as long as I live.  However, my greatest need, your greatest need, is to have our sins forgiven. 

There is no mystery when it comes to how we can be forgiven and assured of going to Heaven.  As we observe the Good News, it is that trusting in Jesus, repenting, and asking Him to forgive our sins brings us salvation and eternal life.