When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (vv.5-7)
Here in chapter 2 we find Jesus in a great deal of controversy with the religious leaders of His day, the scribes and the Pharisees. The first encounter took place at a house in Capernaum, where 4 men brought a paralytic to Jesus to be healed. They had to lowered him through the roof on his bed, because they could not get near to Jesus because of the crowd (vv.1-4). When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you” (v.5). This immediately brought out a reaction from both those who brought him and the scribes in attendance.
Can you imagine how the friends on the roof felt? They went to a lot of trouble to see their friend healed of his paralysis, and now the teacher only wants to forgive his sins. We might imagine them shouting, “No, he’s paralyzed! We wanted him to walk, not to be forgiven!” Jesus did not mean that the paralyzed man was especially sinful or that his paralysis was directly caused by sin. Instead, He addressed the man’s greatest need and the common root of all pain and suffering – man’s sinful condition.
The scribes on the other hand reacted in a different manner, they questioned Jesus's authority saying, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Yes, they used the right kind of logic. They correctly believed that only God could forgive sins, and they are even correct for examining this new teacher. Their error was in refusing to see who Jesus really was, though He was fulfilling the scriptures (Isaiah 35) right before their eyes, they did not see Him - The Son of God, who has the authority to forgive sins.
Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they were all questioning in their hearts said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”; He said to the paralytic, I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (vv.8-12).
For men, both real forgiveness and the power to heal are impossible, but for God, both are easy. It is a logical assumption that if Jesus has the power to immediately heal this man’s disease, He also has the authority to forgive his sins. Imagine if Jesus had failed. His ministry would be shattered. The crowd would slowly leave the house. The scribes would smile and say, “He can’t heal or forgive.” The four men would struggle to pull up the paralyzed man who looked more dejected and embarrassed than ever. The homeowner would look at his roof and think it was all for nothing.
But Jesus did not nor could not fail, because all He needed to heal this man was His word. There is wonderful healing power in the word of Jesus, in the promises of Jesus, for those who come to Him in faith. This man came to Jesus in faith, even if it was the borrowed faith of his friends.
And, He can do the very same for you if you would simply ask.
The Truth: "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed." ~ Isaiah 53:5.
