April '25

I don't know what it is. I'm either a troll or I just take things way too literally. When I hear people say things, I always test it in my mind by taking it to a ridiculous extreme while keeping within the scope of what they've said. When I was kid, if the teacher said something like, "Once you've finished these tasks, you have free time: You can do whatever you want," my brain immediately goes to the same place: "Whatever I want?" Sometimes, I'd even ask it out loud, and I'm sure the teacher found my words original and very groundbreaking.

But anyway, now you know where my mind goes when I encounter Jesus saying, "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter" (Mark 3:28)… A lot of Chrizzos will know that Jesus goes on from here to give the final boss of Biblical threats, the warning against the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. But that's another conversation for another day. Let's just park in the first chunk for now.

Think of it. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit aside, all sins will be forgiven the children of man. Now, at this point you know where I go with it: "All sins?" Yes, all sins. That's what the man says. Your sins, not just that other person's sins. The egregious sins. The embarrassing sins. The sins where it's absolutely clear you don't have a leg to stand on. The impulsive sins. The besetting sins. The sins that have left you ostracised. The sins that have consequences even now.

“All things are possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23). Do you believe?

Phil Brown