Paralytic Cured

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"And behold, they were bringing to Him a paralytic, lying on a bed; and Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "Take courage, My son, your sins are forgiven."" Matthew 9:2

        This appears to be the same story where the young man is lower from the roof to Jesus by his friends (also mentioned in Luke 5:18-26).  Jesus is in the middle of a home, one of the few times we see him teaching inside, and the roof is literally taken off the house to get this paralyzed man to Jesus.  Seeing their faith, Jesus responds to them.  That is so important to get.  It was the faith of those present, who were desperate to get this man to Jesus, that made this miracle possible.  God honors our faith even when it is as small as a mustard seed.

      Isn't it interesting though, that the sickness that Jesus first mentions is not the physical illness.  The Bible clearly states that this sickness affects us all.  Paul said in Ephesians 2:1 "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins."  But, Jesus is willing to cleanse us from these sins if we only ask.  So, this is the illness that Jesus addresses first with this young man. 

      Instead of being glad for this man, the Pharisees respond by claiming that Jesus is blasphemy against God because he is declaring he can forgive sins.  The Pharisees state that only God can forgive sins.  This is actually a true state.  Only God can forgive sins.  Because it is His universe and he alone is the author of our lives and redeemer.  Then, Jesus basically says to them, "I'll show you that I have this authority.  Is it easier to say "your sins are forgiven" or "rise up and walk".  In other words, the miracles testify that Jesus is who he says he is.  With that the man walks out of the room and goes home a whole man.

      Many people today want to believe that God is a God of love without understanding that God is also a holy and just God.  They want to good without the bad and certainly don't believe in a hell.  But, in order for there to be justice there must be a hell.  Without purity then God is also corrupt and that is a pretty scary thought.  God alone has the right to condemn sins because of his position as author and creator of all things.

Some verses to ponder:
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive  together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). . ." Eph 2:4

"For He delivered us from the domain of darkenss, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."  Col 1:13-14

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