Forgiven and Free
A Reflection from Pastor Travis Young | Frontier Church | September 21, 2025
I know a man who once walked into the ER coughing, convinced he had nothing more than a stubborn chest cold. But after running a few tests, the doctors discovered the real issue: he was in heart failure. His problem wasn’t on the surface—it was deep inside, life-threatening, and unseen.
This story helps us understand the message of Mark 2:1–12. When four friends carried a paralyzed man to Jesus, everyone thought the man’s greatest need was obvious: he couldn’t walk. But when Jesus looked at him, He didn’t begin with his legs—He began with his heart. “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Why? Because our greatest need isn’t always what we think. At the root, our deepest need is forgiveness.
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What Happened in Capernaum
The scene was unforgettable. A small home in Capernaum was packed wall-to-wall with people. Dust fell from the ceiling as four friends dug through the roof, determined to lower their paralyzed friend right in front of Jesus.
Jesus honored their faith—but He also shocked the crowd. He didn’t just say, “Get up and walk.” He said, “Your sins are forgiven.” The scribes gasped. They accused Him of blasphemy because only God can forgive sins. And that’s the point: Jesus is God, and He alone has the authority to forgive.
As R.C. Sproul once said:
“If Jesus was not God, then His pronouncement of forgiveness was nothing short of blasphemy. But if He was God, then the scribes’ refusal to bow before Him was the real blasphemy.”
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Forgiveness Leads to Freedom
To prove His authority, Jesus did the visible miracle—He healed the man’s legs. The paralyzed man walked out carrying his mat, and the crowd gasped: “We have never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2:12).
But the greater miracle wasn’t what the crowd could see—it was what only Jesus could do. He forgave sins. He restored identity. He gave this man not just freedom from something, but freedom for a new life.
N.T. Wright put it this way:
“When Jesus healed the man’s body, it was not an added extra to the forgiveness of his sins. It was the visible sign that the forgiveness was real.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why This Matters for Us
The greatest need of every soul is not health, success, or comfort—it’s the forgiveness of sin. And the greatest benefit of Christianity is that God, through Jesus Christ, meets that need.
This is the vision of Frontier Church. We’re not here just to meet surface needs—we’re here to proclaim the Savior who forgives sins and makes people new.
That’s why we invite you to:
Why? Because church isn’t a restaurant—it’s a rescue team. Don’t just sample. Commit to the mission.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottom Line
Only Jesus has the authority to forgive sin—and when He forgives, He doesn’t just make us better, He makes us brand new.
Maybe today your greatest need isn’t healing, comfort, or success. Maybe it’s forgiveness. And the good news is—Jesus offers it freely.
—Dr. Travis Young
Frontier Church
I know a man who once walked into the ER coughing, convinced he had nothing more than a stubborn chest cold. But after running a few tests, the doctors discovered the real issue: he was in heart failure. His problem wasn’t on the surface—it was deep inside, life-threatening, and unseen.
This story helps us understand the message of Mark 2:1–12. When four friends carried a paralyzed man to Jesus, everyone thought the man’s greatest need was obvious: he couldn’t walk. But when Jesus looked at him, He didn’t begin with his legs—He began with his heart. “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Why? Because our greatest need isn’t always what we think. At the root, our deepest need is forgiveness.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What Happened in Capernaum
The scene was unforgettable. A small home in Capernaum was packed wall-to-wall with people. Dust fell from the ceiling as four friends dug through the roof, determined to lower their paralyzed friend right in front of Jesus.
Jesus honored their faith—but He also shocked the crowd. He didn’t just say, “Get up and walk.” He said, “Your sins are forgiven.” The scribes gasped. They accused Him of blasphemy because only God can forgive sins. And that’s the point: Jesus is God, and He alone has the authority to forgive.
As R.C. Sproul once said:
“If Jesus was not God, then His pronouncement of forgiveness was nothing short of blasphemy. But if He was God, then the scribes’ refusal to bow before Him was the real blasphemy.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forgiveness Leads to Freedom
To prove His authority, Jesus did the visible miracle—He healed the man’s legs. The paralyzed man walked out carrying his mat, and the crowd gasped: “We have never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2:12).
But the greater miracle wasn’t what the crowd could see—it was what only Jesus could do. He forgave sins. He restored identity. He gave this man not just freedom from something, but freedom for a new life.
N.T. Wright put it this way:
“When Jesus healed the man’s body, it was not an added extra to the forgiveness of his sins. It was the visible sign that the forgiveness was real.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why This Matters for Us
The greatest need of every soul is not health, success, or comfort—it’s the forgiveness of sin. And the greatest benefit of Christianity is that God, through Jesus Christ, meets that need.
This is the vision of Frontier Church. We’re not here just to meet surface needs—we’re here to proclaim the Savior who forgives sins and makes people new.
That’s why we invite you to:
- Join a Team. (Greeters, Kids, Worship, Outreach, Setup/Tear-down.)
- Get in Community. (Small groups, Membership.)
- Share the Gospel. Invite your one.
Why? Because church isn’t a restaurant—it’s a rescue team. Don’t just sample. Commit to the mission.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottom Line
Only Jesus has the authority to forgive sin—and when He forgives, He doesn’t just make us better, He makes us brand new.
Maybe today your greatest need isn’t healing, comfort, or success. Maybe it’s forgiveness. And the good news is—Jesus offers it freely.
—Dr. Travis Young
Frontier Church
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