After preaching and healing in other towns and villages of Galilee, Jesus returned to what Matthew describes as 'his own city' at this point in his life, Capernaum. He was evidently staying again at the home of Andrew and Simon, and word soon spread that he had returned. A great crowd gathered, and Jesus preached the Word to them. Four men came to the house, carrying a paralyzed man on a pallet. When they couldn't even approach the door because of the great crowd, they might have turned back, but instead, they climbed the steps to the roof, uncovered a portion of it, and lowered their friend into the midst of the crowded scene. Jesus, seeing their faith, declared to the paralytic, NOT "Arise and walk," as we might expect, but rather, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." This was too much for the scribes, who were present, and they thought to themselves, "Why does this man speak blasphemies, who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus, knowing their thoughts, asked them which is easier to say "Your sins are forgiven you," or "Arise, take up your bed and walk?" Clearly, any false Messiah could SAY, "Your sins are forgiven you." It doesn't require any supernatural power to SAY "Your sins are forgiven." "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins," he said to the paralyzed man, "Arise take up your pallet and walk." Immediately the man did so, to the astonishment of all present! In this message, we emphasize that affliction can be a blessing; the determination of this man's friends to help him; the fact that our greatest need is forgiveness; and the power of Christ to forgive sin, to heal with his word, and to know men's thoughts.
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Born and raised in Baltimore MD, then moving to Florida in his youth, Russ came to faith in Christ as a third year college student through the testimony of his brother Doug. Russ transferred from the University of Florida to Shelton College which is affiliated with the Bible...
