share His forgiveness with others

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

(Mark 2:8-12) Some of the teachers of the Law were upset that Jesus could simply say "Your sins are forgiven". How dare He? Jesus showed he indeed had power over the spiritual (sin) and the physical (paralysis). This is what the teachers had a problem with . . . how can you claim to do what God does? Well . . . it because Jesus is God; fully man (Son of Man verse 10) and fully God, theSon of God (John 20:31). Jesus became flesh to be able to identify with us in our sufferings as well as to be offered up as a sacrifice for our sin. Yet He has power to both forgive sin and comfort us in our sufferings. How often do we take advantage of the opportunity to forgive, heal hurts, and comfort others in pain. Unconditional love for others goes a long in winning people over for Christ. Holding back on serving others? Finding it hard to forgive? Holding onto grudges? Allow God to work through our lives to share His forgiveness with others. One would be surprised how much it can help our own outlook on life!