Don’t You Know?

Jesus, the great physician whose work never seems to end. 

Mark 2:1-8,

And when Jesus returned to Capernaum after some 
days, it was reported that Jesus was home. And many 
were gathered together, so that there was no longer 
room for them, not even about the door; and Jesus 
was preaching the word to them. And they came, 
bringing to Jesus a paralytic carried by four men. And 
when they could not get near Jesus because of the 
crowd, the four men removed the roof above Jesus; 
and when they had made an opening, they let down the 
pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw 
their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins 
are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting 
there, questioning in their hearts. Why does this man 
speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but 
God alone? 

“It was reported that Jesus was home,” let me ask you, does Jesus 
ever leave home or do we leave Jesus and turn and walk away?” 

Now Jesus acknowledged the four men’s faith who had lowered the 
paralytic through the roof knowing in faith that Jesus would heal the 
paralytic but who are the four men? Do you recognize them? Do you 
remember meeting them once not to long ago? They remember you 
for your faith but you may not remember them.

Now a pallet has four corners and on the front right and left corners 
are persons you are familiar with. 

Mark 1: 21-23

And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the 
Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. And 
they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them 
as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And 
immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an 
unclean spirit;

On the right rear corner is someone you are familiar with: 

Mark 1: 29-30

And immediately Jesus left the synagogue, and entered 
the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 
Now Simon’s mother in-law lay sick with a fever, and 
immediately they told Jesus of her. 

On the left rear corner is a person you are familiar with. 

Mark 1:40

And a leper came to Jesus beseeching Jesus, and 
kneeling said to Jesus, “If you will, you can make 
me clean.”

Think about it, who better to carry this pallet to Jesus and lower the
pallet with the paralytic into Jesus arms then one who has been 
there?

The religious who do not recognize Jesus as he stands before their 
Very eyes.

The one with an unclean spirit for who better to realize the miracle 
our Lord and Savior can perform, than one who has received? 

The one with a fever full of hate and disgust for another human being 
that is destroying the one with the fever, not the one they are mad at.
The leper who has been ostracized from society and left to lie in his 
own pain and loneliness. 

Have you ever thought that the paralytic on the stretcher was the four 
who brought the pallet to Jesus for healing? They were searching, 
seeking, lost and paralyzed by their actions. 

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I 
once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.

Matthew 25: 35-36

for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and 
you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed 
me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you 
visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”

Matthew 25: 37-39

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord when did we 
see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee 
drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and 
welcome thee, or naked and cloth thee? And when did 
we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee? And the 
king will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, as you did it to 
one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’

Sometimes in life we become paralyzed in where we are and we fail to
realize we are the one who is distant, it is not our love ones, it is not 
friends, it is not God, we become distant and fail to realize God’s love 
for us. God’s love is real, unconditional and never leaves His heart. 

Words nothing but words if only to show how much. My love for you 
unfolds. Through trouble and fear this love feels so real and I need 
you to know. And even though we’re far apart you’re right beside me 
in my heart. Don’t you know my love is here? Don’t you know my love 
is real? You should know by now this much is true, my love is here 
for you. Time, nothing but time to make up your mind, I’ll give you all 
that you need. I want you to know I’ll never let go till you come back 
to me. And even though you’re far away, I’m right beside you day by 
day. Don’t you know my love is here? Don’t you know my love is real? 
You should know by now this much is true. My love is here for you. 

You see everyday is Valentine’s Day with God the Father for God 
never stops being in love with His children. 

Isaiah 43: 18-21

Remember not the former things, nor consider the 
things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it 
springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way 
in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to 
my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself 
that they might declare my praise.

If you’re holding onto the garbage from the past, the things of old let 
It go at this very moment for until you do you will be paralyzed in 
your religiousness you will not recognize Jesus if he was standing 
right before you. In your unclean spirit the devil lives within you. In 
fever of anger you cannot love yourself let alone another and this 
has left your life in ruin and shamble, left you paralyzed. Paralyzed 
emotionally, physically, spiritually. At this very moment how do you 
perceive God in your life? In your paralysis do you recognize Jesus 
as he stands right before you? 

Mark 2:8-12

And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they 
thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why 
do you question thus in your hearts?” Which is easier to 
say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, 
‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk?’ But that you may 
know that the Son of man has authority on earth to 
forgive sins” Jesus said to the paralytic, “I say to you, 
rise, take up your pallet, and go home.” And the man 
rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out 
before them all; so that they were all amazed and 
glorified God saying, “We never saw anything like this.” 

In our lives it is easy to stand back and say, I’ll believe it when I see 
it, make me a liar! It is another thing to have faith in God believing 
that miracles do happen. People can and do change their lives when 
they come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, when they 
come to realize that they do matter and that there are actually people 
who care about me. 

As one individual told me, the devil is still knocking on my door with 
temptation, the urge is always there. But I have no reason to open the 
door and let the devil in, to satisfy that old me. I’ve got Jesus Christ 
as my Lord and Savior now and church family to hold me 
accountable, which I did not have before. I was paralyzed by my 
anger, my bitterness, my fix, but now I am healed and can get up and 
walk with my head up high and a smile on my face. You know there 
was a time I didn’t know I was walking, let alone smiling, because 
when you’re high, it all feels the same and you don’t know what 
you’re doing. Now I smile because I can feel, I can see, I know what 
is going on around me for I’m high on Jesus Christ, my Lord and 
Savior, not on the devil’s need anymore.

If you are addicted to whatever addiction you may have, lower your 
pallet of paralysis through the roof, in humbleness, to Jesus’ 
waiting arms. 

Open the eyes of your heart and give up your pallet today, let go of 
the four corners that are holding your addictive behavior and give it 
to God. Then and only then, will you be able in the amazement of the 
crowd to stand up for Jesus and carry your pallet, your burden, for 
others to see as a gift. To help those who are, who have been, and 
who shall be, where you have been so that they may see the truth. 
See that one can be tied down in the pits of hell, paralyzed by a 
lifestyle, and be free to move about once again with Jesus Christ 
as their Lord and Savior. 

Sometimes I wonder, what is it about us humans that keeps us 
looking around that keeps us reaching out for more instead of 
treasuring what we’ve found? If only we were richer. If only we were 
smarter, if we just had a bit more then peace would fill our heart. If 
we’d just stop and figure out that each day is a prize, a gift to us 
each morning when we open our eyes. That everything we have is 
a present we receive then we could be truly content as soon as we 
believe.

May we be in prayer, 

Father God, thank you for loving me of all people, for not turning your 
back on me and walking away when so many have in this world. For 
believing in me when I did not believe in me. May I open the eyes 
of my heart; open my ears to hear you. Open my arms to 
embrace you and begin at this moment to let go of that, 
which is paralyzing me. Paralyzing me emotionally, 
physically, spiritually, mentally, my addiction that 
is killing me. My need to be needed when I do 
not want me but I need something, someone 
to fill a void in me that I can no longer feel. 
May I remember what you have told me. 
Thank you Father for never forgetting 
me and for loving me.
Amen




 
02192006JWM



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