Which is Easier…?

1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the paralytic-- 11 "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home." 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

Mark 2:1-12 (ESV), emphasis added

To the audience in the story, the answer would be obvious. They believed in healing. Spiritual redemption, however, was not something that was easily attained. While we may look at this as one side just being words (forgiveness) and the other requiring a miracle (walking), the audience knew that the forgiveness was truly the greater work of the two.

It's interesting to me, how relatively easy it is to trust Christ for the spiritual healing and not the physical. Which is truly easier, though: to pay a debt that you incurred at birth and will never be able to repay or to pay off you credit card bill? to mend the only relationship that truly matters that you can never men on your own or to heal the relationship between you and your spouse/family/friend?

This is an area in which we often show ourselves to be practical atheists. We "believe" that God has saved us, but we don't live as though he can take care of us and our stuff. I tend toward being a "fixer" but the reality is that I can never fix anything of any value with lasting or permanent results. I'm in need of fixing. Would that I lived like I believe the the things I say I believe.