Words from the Rock
“Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven. . . .
“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.”
Matthew 9:2, 5–6 NASB
Word of Jesus’s incredible ministry spread quickly, and more people came to him, hoping for miracles. This was the case when he arrived in his hometown and a paralyzed man was brought to him for healing. But when Jesus bent down and kindly told the sick man that his sins were forgiven, some of the Jewish leaders took offense. In their opinion, forgiveness wasn’t something a person could just hand out. According to their laws, it had to be purchased.
Jesus knew what they were thinking (and saying behind his back), so he used this opportunity to make an important point. He made it clear that not only did he have the authority to forgive sins, but he also had the power to heal. And this authority and power came from the same source—his Father God. Now, it was one thing for the religious leaders to be upset when Jesus forgave someone’s sins, but can you imagine how shocked they must’ve been when Jesus healed that paralyzed man?
But Jesus wasn’t simply showcasing God’s authority that day. Maybe that’s why he linked the power of forgiveness with the miracle of healing. Today, more than two thousand years later, medical professionals are admitting that forgiveness and physical and emotional wellness go hand in hand. In other words, if we reject forgiveness, our bodies and minds will probably suffer for it.
My Prayer
Dear God,
Remind me that I need to experience your forgiveness on an ongoing basis. Help me to see how it impacts all areas of my life—including my health and wholeness.
Amen.
Final Word
And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment.
John 5:27 Message
Stone for the Journey
Jesus’s forgiveness is vital to my physical and emotional health.