Welcome to Day 11 of our 40-day devotional Journey to the Cross. We will now begin looking at people all along the way of the journey. Luke 13:29 says, “People will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.” The people who travel with us often make our journeys memorable. As Jesus journeyed to the cross, his path intersected with those of many different people, all in great need of His mercy.

Our passage for today is Mark 2:1-12.

When he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them. They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts: “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Right away Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he told the paralytic—“I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.” Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Whenever my family goes on a trip, we think about those that we left behind, those who were not able to join us on our trip. We must always pick up some souvenirs along the way. Souvenir buying is an art. Purchasing from the first souvenir stand you come across is generally a bad idea. Yet also is waiting until the end, when you are on your way home and stopping at the last souvenir stand is equally as bad. Returning with meaningful, memorable gifts from your trip for each family member is no small task. I often think it would be much easier if they just came with us and could get whatever they wanted.

In Mar 2, some friends took their friend to Jesus. This friend was crippled and would not have been able to make the journey on his own. Perhaps it was even somewhat unwise for the friends to take him. Yet the crippled friend received an amazing souvenir. He was physically healed. The paralytic was able to walk in front of all the people. But like many physical souvenirs, that was more the evidence of a experience than the experience itself. For the paralytic was also told, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” That is the true miracle of this story, and it is a gift we also receive.

Jesus journeyed to the cross to purchase the perfect gift for us – eternal life. That gift is evidence of the true experience for us – that through Jesus’s death on the cross, our sins are also forgiven. Jesus bought this gift with his dying breath. Your Lord did not put a few dollars, but His very life on the line. He gave His own body to death. He invested far more than silver or gold. The Lord of creation shed His own blood for you!

As we have already seen: this gift was not an afterthought. It was planned from the beginning. Nor was it an obligation. God wasn’t required to give it to us. Eternal life is God’s gift, freely given our of His tremendous love for you. Romans 6:23 reminds, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus journeyed to the cross to purchase just the right gift, the perfect gift for you. Today as you pray, say some like: “Lord Jesus, you journeyed to the cross to purchase the perfect gift of eternal life for me. Let me receive this gift with gratitude.”

Thank you for joining me today. Come back tomorrow for Day 12.