Day Seven: The Man in the Hole (Mark 2:6-12)
Devotional: Many people believe that all the religions basically believe the same thing. But is that true? Perhaps the most important religious question, the one with eternal consequences, is this… Who is Jesus? Do all religions believe the same thing about salvation? Perhaps an illustration will help.
A man fell into a hole. He fell into a whole and couldn’t get out. A traveler passed by and told the man to meditate, to purify his mind, and when he reached nirvana, all suffering would cease. The man did as he was told, but he remained in the hole. Another man appeared and explained that the hole didn’t exist, neither in fact did the man, it was all an illusion. The man who did not exist was still stuck in the hole that was not there.
Another visitor arrived and he instructed the man in the hole to perform good deeds to improve his karma. And though he’d still die in the hole, he might be reincarnated into something magnificent. Another man looked down from above and he taught the man to pray five times a day facing East and to follow five important tenants. If he was faithful, one day perhaps, the divine would set hm free. The man prayed as best he could but was losing strength, and in the hole he remained.
Another man appeared. There was something different about him. He called down to the man in the hole and asked him if he wanted to be free. This man lowered himself into the pit, took hold of the man, and brought him out of the pit and into the light. And the man in the hole who couldn’t get himself out of the pit, was saved. What separates Christianity from all other religions is that we believe it’s what Jesus has DONE not what we DO that brings salvation.
What infuriated the religious leaders was not that Jesus healed, but that He forgive the man’s sin. Why? Because only God can forgive. And that was Jesus’ point. He wasn’t just a good man that did good things for others. He was God, and therefore could forgive a man’s sin. Most other religions teach that Jesus is a good man, a teacher, even a prophet. But salvation is only available to those who believe He is God.
And most religions teach what man must do for salvation. But Jesus makes it clear, it's only what He has done that can forgive a man of his sins and give to him salvation. God never provided multiple paths. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) So what about you… Who is Jesus?
Prayer: Read the following Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 and Ephesians 2:1-10. Afterwards, take time thanking God for your salvation through Jesus.
Devotional: Many people believe that all the religions basically believe the same thing. But is that true? Perhaps the most important religious question, the one with eternal consequences, is this… Who is Jesus? Do all religions believe the same thing about salvation? Perhaps an illustration will help.
A man fell into a hole. He fell into a whole and couldn’t get out. A traveler passed by and told the man to meditate, to purify his mind, and when he reached nirvana, all suffering would cease. The man did as he was told, but he remained in the hole. Another man appeared and explained that the hole didn’t exist, neither in fact did the man, it was all an illusion. The man who did not exist was still stuck in the hole that was not there.
Another visitor arrived and he instructed the man in the hole to perform good deeds to improve his karma. And though he’d still die in the hole, he might be reincarnated into something magnificent. Another man looked down from above and he taught the man to pray five times a day facing East and to follow five important tenants. If he was faithful, one day perhaps, the divine would set hm free. The man prayed as best he could but was losing strength, and in the hole he remained.
Another man appeared. There was something different about him. He called down to the man in the hole and asked him if he wanted to be free. This man lowered himself into the pit, took hold of the man, and brought him out of the pit and into the light. And the man in the hole who couldn’t get himself out of the pit, was saved. What separates Christianity from all other religions is that we believe it’s what Jesus has DONE not what we DO that brings salvation.
What infuriated the religious leaders was not that Jesus healed, but that He forgive the man’s sin. Why? Because only God can forgive. And that was Jesus’ point. He wasn’t just a good man that did good things for others. He was God, and therefore could forgive a man’s sin. Most other religions teach that Jesus is a good man, a teacher, even a prophet. But salvation is only available to those who believe He is God.
And most religions teach what man must do for salvation. But Jesus makes it clear, it's only what He has done that can forgive a man of his sins and give to him salvation. God never provided multiple paths. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) So what about you… Who is Jesus?
Prayer: Read the following Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 and Ephesians 2:1-10. Afterwards, take time thanking God for your salvation through Jesus.
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