St. Matthew 9:1-8
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. St. Matthew 9:1-8
When you are sick, you know what you need – to get better. There are plenty of sicknesses and plenty of remedies, but it all boils down to that. You simply need to get better, to be healed. If you see someone you care for is sick, it is the same thing. You know they need to get better. And you will try and do what you can to get them better. So it is with the friends of a man who is paralyzed. They know he needs to get better, and they are very faithful and wise because they take him to the one who can do just that, make him better, make him walk. That’s Jesus, who had just crossed the Sea of Galilee and was heading to his city. So they carry him on a bed. And Jesus sees their faith. Not a generic faith, but faith in Him. Jesus Christ is always the object of faith. Faith looks outward, looks at Jesus. Faith looks to him for all good, and help and healing. Like the hymn says, “Faith looks to Jesus Christ alone”. So Jesus sees them seeing him and he does what he has come to do, what only God can do. He forgives sins. “He said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son, your sins are forgiven.” But is that what was needed? Did the man’s friends bring him to Jesus for forgiveness of his sins? He was paralyzed, weren’t they bringing their friend to Jesus so that he could walk again? For sure. But Jesus knows what is needed, where the true healing of the body comes from. That is him, through the forgiveness of sins. But the scribes thought he was a blasphemer, because only God can forgive sins. Right. Jesus is God, and he knows their thoughts. Yours too. They thought evil of him because he forgave. So he asks them which is easier to say, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise and walk? Which is it anyway? He is God, through him were all things made, for the one through whom all creation was created it is not much to heal a messed up spine. But to forgive sins? That is the difficult thing, because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Heb. 9:22) Forgiveness, the release of the consequence of sin,that is the difficult thing. That means his death, the shedding of his blood. And it is just what Jesus has come to do. And so that they and you would know that he is God, the one who comes to forgive he said, “Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” You are sick, sin is a disease and it is a terminal condition. Because of sin, there is disease of the body, frailty and weakness for yourself and for those you care for. Take heart, your sins are forgiven you. That doesn’t sound like it matters. But it matters; it is the very healing you need. The forgiveness of your sins purchased and won by Jesus through His death on the cross is what gives you healing of soul and body. Where the soul is healed, the body follows. Jesus teaches you this by how he deals with the paralyzed man and how he deals with the scribes. The paralytic was forgiven first, healed second. The scribes thought Jesus was saying the worst thing he could say, blasphemy even. It is the best thing you hear, grace beyond measure. Your sins are forgiven you. You are forgiven first, healed second. Jesus purchased and won your forgiveness first and he sealed your healing with his resurrection. And the faith the Holy Spirit gives you looks to Jesus, clings to the forgiveness of your sins, always looking to him for good, for forgiveness. And you are forgiven.The authority by means he has to do this rests in the fact that He is God, and he doesn’t go back on his promises. His body and blood for given and shed for you, come into your body with the promise that your sins are forgiven and then with the promise that you will be healed. For with the forgiveness of sins there is also life and salvation. How do you know? He said so, “whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day.” That means perfect healing. Forgiveness first, healing second. Both are given both are certain, even as he is risen from the dead. You think you know what you need first and now. Jesus knows better. He forgives you all your sins. Amen.
