The Mind Reader

A simple Christmas came and went, but the reason for Christmas lives on in our hearts. I continuously remind myself of this. It is one of the good things I think on as Philippians 4 exhorts us to do. When I let my mind simply drift it usually get in trouble. Well, at least in my mind and that is where my biggest battles are fought any way. Drifting thoughts can end up attaching themselves to evil things we see in everyday life in our society. We easily can become vexed like Lot, something I wrote about earlier. Life’s evil ways from the past, some lust, some unbelief, or pride in our evil hearts can be stirred up inside our minds as fast as a lighting bolt strikes. That is what happened in my reading today, not in my mind, but the mind’s of the Pharisees in Matthew 9:1-8 NIV

“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 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.”  And the man got up and went home.  When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.”

Picture this scene in your mind (Doing so you’re thinking on something good! It’s approved thinking), a few friends carried a paralyze son of Israel to Jesus. As they get there Jesus see’s not the faith on the lame man, but that of the others. Then rather than heal the guy, Jesus tells him (the paralytic), “your sins are forgiven.”

At this red flags went off in the Pharisees minds. Why though? It’s simple. Who could forgive sins? It’s only God that can forgives sins. Thus Jesus was claiming, in an indirect way, to be God or equal with God. If Jesus had been a fraud, the Pharisees would be right. But, this was God acting. This was that baby of the manger who moved on to manhood now claiming to be God! This was blasphemy if He wasn't  But, it turns out He was and is and always will be God.

So, now those Pharisees (like we do) had an evil though right away, “let’s kill Him!” I think they thought. They wanted to stone Him to death, for the sin of blasphemy. What happened is that Jesus—God read their minds and He reads ours too.

^“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV