From this verse here (V. 1) to verse (V. 8) Jesus displays His power & authority over the paralyzing effects of sin and guilt.
Jesus Heals a Paralytic-(N.I.V.)
9:1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. (i.e. Capernaum, a city adopted by Jesus. Teaching at Peter’s house.-{Luke 5:17})
2 Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. (i.e. A makeshift stretcher. Finding no room in the house because of the crowd, they lowered him through the roof.-{Luke 5:18-19}) When Jesus saw their faith (Expresses both the paralytic in consenting, and the effort/determination of the men bringing him to Jesus.) he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, (i.e. Cheer up, perk up, don’t despair.) son; your sins are forgiven". (Expresses: Was meant to ease the man’s fear, thinking he was too great a sinner to be healed by God. Or that his paralyses was a result of his own sinful/reckless behavior. {cf. James 1:14-15})
Jesus responds to the man’s more urgent need of spiritual healing and announces his sins forgiven.
Message & Application
Shows believers how our greatest urgency is not our physical needs, but our spiritual needs in having our sins forgiven and our guilt lifted.
Calls for caring enough in having the same determination in getting our family & friends to Jesus that they may be healed & Saved!
Teaches those who are sorry for what they’ve done can take heart that God no longer condemns them or holds their sins against them. (Stand on the assurance of God’s forgiveness, not the sins of the past).
Calls for allowing Jesus to get to the real issues, that He's not just here to treat the symptoms but also the root cause!
Teaches how Jesus heals us where we need it the most, not necessarily what we want the most. (Trust Christ to minister to your real need!).
Note: Even today our greatest need is not about having our social, financial, or health problems resolved. But about allowing Jesus to get to the issues behind our drinking, gambling, and self-destructive behavior.
The Healing Power of Forgiveness:
- Brings freedom & hope in the midst of guilt, shame, grief, rejection, and despair.
- Brings a sense of meaning, purpose, value, self-worth/importance, self-esteem, usefulness.
- Brings renewed relationship, fellowship, love, companionship, the connection of belonging.
Pg. 140
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9:3 At this (i.e. Jesus’ declaration having forgiven the paralytic's sins.-{V.2}) some of the teachers of the law said to themselves "This fellow (3353-A plague, pest, a pestilent.) is blaspheming!" (987-To speak slanderously of God, or to take prerogatives belonging to God. Punishable by stoning).-{cf. Lev. 24:16}
The religious leaders accuse Jesus of blasphemy for proclaiming rights that belong only to God.
Message & Application
Shows how a heart that is skeptical & critical can block Jesus from doing a divine work and healing in our lives.
Teaches those who are legalistic and uncharitable at heart will always become critical when someone gets healed and Saved by grace.
Warns against allowing doubt and discouragement to set in that we start questioning who Jesus is, or whether our healing is real or not.
Even today, believers can give into doubt and frustration after falling into some sin. That we know what God has said and what He’s spoken in our situation. Yet we begin to question our Salvation & forgiveness, that maybe we didn’t believe right, or we didn’t pray the right prayer.
9:4 Knowing their thoughts, (Expresses Jesus’ divine Omniscient.) Jesus said, "Why do you entertain (Syn.-foster, harbor) evil thoughts in your hearts? (Expresses their hardhearted skepticism and unbelief in Jesus’ claims.-{V. 3})
5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins (266-missing the mark, falling short of the glory of God) are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’ (Expresses a rhetorical question, implying that neither would have been too difficult for Jesus.)
Jesus would not have pronounced the man’s sins forgiven if He wasn't God!
Message & Application
Shows how failure to see Jesus’ ability to heal & Save us is not an intellectual problem, but a matter of the heart that is disbelieving.
Displays how it's not that Jesus hasn’t revealed enough, the problem is that there is something in our hearts that keeps us from receiving Him.
Teaches how the problem is not a lack of physical evidence or proof, but a spiritual paralysis of the heart that is limiting God.
Warns how even the sins of the heart are open, that nothing is hidden from God’s sight. (Guard your heart against doubt and skepticism!).
Even today, believers can struggle in the same way, that it’s easy for us to believe that God can Save us from our sins. But that it’s more difficult for God to forgive us, heal us, or meet our financial burdens.
Pg. 141
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9:6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man (i.e. Jesus. Expresses a Messianic title signifying the Messiah’s human origins and divine headship over humanity.) has authority on earth to forgive sins. (863-To send forth, send away, remit. Syn.-pardon, atone) "Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." (Suggests: The man went home healed in both body & soul, no longer bound by sin or guilt. That he was to be a living witness to his family or to repay them for the care & support they had given him for so long.)
7 And the man got up and went home. (Praising & glorifying God.-{Luke 5:25})
Jesus proves His divine power & authority to forgive sins by healing the paralytic.
Message & Application
Shows believers the transforming power of Jesus’ word in giving us
the strength to walk away from the sin that’s been paralyzing our lives.
Teaches how Jesus will never call us to do something without giving
us the strength to do it! (True faith will take Christ at His word!).
Teaches as soon as we start to obey and act on what Christ commands
will we begin to move forward in new life, healing, and wholeness!
Teaches if Jesus' healing is going to take effect, we need to do our
part in rolling up our bed of excuses, crutches, and blame games.
Calls for acting on Jesus’ word, that our sobriety and recovery is real,
that we’re not the same person as before!
Note: Even today believers need to arm ourselves with the same attitude.
That from here on out things are going to be different. That we’re no
longer tied to some sin, scandal, grudge, or failure of the past. That we
can be set free from it, no longer having to drag it around with us.
Pg. 142
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