Jesus Wants to Forgive Our Sins

I don't know about you but I've always liked a good courtroom drama, whether portrayed on TV or in the movies or described in a good novel.  I like the way the lawyer crafts his questions, his comments, and his line of reasoning in such a way that, in the end, the jury or the audience is compelled to agree with his argument.  Maybe that's why I like the first part of Mark chapter 2 in which Jesus not only heals a paralyzed man, but He also demonstrates His authority to forgive sins.         

In Mark 2, Jesus was teaching in a crowded house when a paralytic was lowered on a mat from the roof above.  With the man before Him, Jesus said "Son, your sins are forgiven."  Now the teachers of the law, who doubted that Jesus was the Son of God, thought to themselves Jesus is guilty of blasphemy because only God can forgive sins.  So Jesus engages them.  Mark 2:8 says that Jesus, knowing what they were thinking, said to them, "Which is easier to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Get up, take your mat and walk'?"

I love Jesus' leading question here.  When I think through it myself, I realize, of course, it's easier to say 'your sins are forgiven.'  Right?  Because no one can tell whether it has happened or not.  There's no visible proof of the man's sins being forgiven.  So that's what everybody is thinking.  And, like a good courtroom attorney, Jesus has them right where He wants them.  Then in verses 10-12, He says, "But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . He said to the paralytic, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.' Then the man got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all."  What drama!  

Jesus used this situation to pronounce His authority.  In effect, He was saying to the teachers of the law, I will heal this man physically (and do what you think is harder to do) so that you might know that I have the authority to also heal him spiritually.  In this passage, Jesus demonstrates His authority, as the Son of God, over the physical and the spiritual.  Beloved, we all need Jesus to forgive us of our sins, of disobeying Him and breaking relationship with Him.  Do not doubt that He has this authority and desire to forgive you if you're willing to come to Him.  At the end of the passage, it says, "This amazed everyone and they praised God."

God bless.

Pastor Darren