Whole Power of God


Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? (Mark 2:9)


There is another power of God that we cannot ignore that takes its full force in dealing with our human nature. This power is beyond human reasoning (Mark 2:8) for our thoughts will never be able to comprehend the full working of His power. Human thoughts can lead to despair and fear (Luke 24:38), confined to man’s laws (Luke 6:7,8) and basically evil because of our fallen nature (Mark 7:21). It took the work of the cross to reconcile even our minds to God (Col 1:20-21), hence the renewing happens to our mind to bring us into the good, perfect and acceptable will of God (Rom 12:2). Repentance is essentially the overhauling of our mind and thoughts to conform to the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16)


Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. (John 5:14)


The man sick of the palsy and the impotent man by the pool of Bethesda have one thing is common, immediate obedience as the demonstration of their faith in receiving the healing power by taking up their beds and walk. Both men also received the other power of Christ which is forgiveness. Have we indeed received the other power of God which has eternal consequences, that is forgiveness of sin? We must always remember that the primary reason for the cross of Jesus is the power to forgive (Rom 3:25), for the power of healing is temporal for ‘it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment’ (Heb 9:27). Therefore the more lasting power of God is to cleanse us whole not just to heal bodily.


Of all the multitudes that desired healing at the pool of Bethesda that day, why did Jesus only heal one? Perhaps He saw in this man a faith to respond quickly, meaning willing to put aside all forms of human reasoning to receive His healing power. Perhaps Jesus saw the man readily accepting His greater eternal power to deal with morality. Our discipleship is about the cross that deals daily with our sin. How effectual is this power of God over our lives, not just to meet our current needs, but for eternity past the temporal unto becoming glorious church whom He is waiting to receive (Rev 22:17)?