If you could be given one thing in this world to make you happy, what would it be? A better-paying job? Loss of 50 pounds? Your favorite team winning the championship? A healing? What would you pick?
This weekend, we meet a man who would have responded, "If only I could walk again, I would be happy."
But this man had a more significant problem. As always, Jesus could see the deeper problem. When Jesus saw this young man and his friends seeking a physical healing, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
Jesus did not mean that all infirmity in this world comes about directly because of one's own personal sin. Jesus was very clear about this elsewhere in the Bible. But, in this particular case, the man's problem was due, at least in part, to his own sin. Jesus perceived that. On a deeper scale, Jesus knew that the sin problem was much greater than the physical problem. For the man to be happy in the long term, he needed healing in his soul more than he needed healing in his body.
Of course, when Jesus declared the man's sins forgiven, he set a chain reaction into motion. Some religious authorities heard what Jesus said and were shocked. No human being—no Pharisee, no scribe, no priest or theologian—had such authority. They asked, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (v. 21) This weekend, we'll think about what they would have wanted in order to be happy. One thing is clear: These religious leaders wanted no authority over them—either a political regime or a young rabbi like Jesus. They could be happy only if they were in charge.
Jesus asked the authorities a penetrating question: "Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven' or to say 'Get up and walk'?" Which of the two is easier? Pronouncing forgiveness of sins seems easier: If it doesn't happen, what mortal would ever know? But then, to forgive sins demands the power and authority that only the Maker of all human life possesses. So, then, healing a crippled man must be easier than forgiving sins. But no, that's not "easy" either.
As everyone wrestled with the question, Jesus cut to the chase. He proclaimed that he "has authority on earth to forgive sins" (Mk. 2:10). With no further rationale given, Jesus both forgave and healed the man.
This Bible text forces us to ask what we need most in order to live well. We'll learn from Jesus words and deeds that biblical forgiveness is our most basic need. Then, we will remember the blood poured out for the forgiveness of our sins.
To His Glory,
Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor