Breaking & Entering // Rev. Matt Kennedy // Mar 16 2025

One of the challenges with sharing the Good News of Jesus in today's world is that some of our Biblical language about the gospel is foreign to modern ears. For instance, what does it really mean to say, "your sins are forgiven"? Many struggle to understand what exactly "sin" is or what "forgiveness" means. There is a story early in the book of Mark that helps vividly illustrate the meaning of that phrase in a surprising way. A group of friends bring a paralyzed man to Jesus, but crowds and walls keep him out, so they dig a hole in the roof to interrupt class. Yet before Jesus restores the man's ability to walk, he forgives his sins (Mark 2:1-12).Sin is more than just bad choices. It is the oppressive power that surrounds, isolates, estranges, weakens, and numbs us. When God comes to us in Jesus, his forgiveness is more than just the changing of a grade on a ledger. It is an act of restoration and healing for the body, soul, and spirit. We continue our Lenten sermon series this week with another colorful story of Jesus helping people in need, often with unexpected methods and outcomes: vicarious faith, unsolicited forgiveness, and a damaged roof!