Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!" Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." -Jesus (Matthew 9:2-7)
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” –Jesus (Luke 12:32)
“However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” –Jesus (Luke 10:20)
It seems like God doesn’t assume it should impress us if we heal the sick or cast out demons. I can imagine the perplexed look on Jesus’s face when I’d be getting all excited about the amazing Jesus-type stuff I’ve accomplished, “Not like that’s not wonderful,” I could see in His face, “but that’s all toppings.” It’s like a starved man coming back from a desperate journey across a parched plain: how narrowly he escaped death, and at the sight of the nourishing banquet placed before him, his mind is reeling at the prospect of getting to use silverware once again. It’s all well and good, but brother, you nearly died! How exactly the food gets from plate to mouth is shadowed by the reality of any nourishment at all!
I think Jesus takes our names being written in the Book of Life as a good deal for the nearly dead.
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