Forgiven

Luke 5:17-26 (The Message)

One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and religion teachers were sitting around. They had come from nearly every village in Galilee and Judea, even as far away as Jerusalem, to be there. The healing power of God was on him.

Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher.

They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus.

When they couldn't find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus.

Impressed by their bold belief, he said, "Friend, I forgive your sins."

That set the religion scholars and Pharisees buzzing. "Who does he think he is? That's blasphemous talk! God and only God can forgive sins."

Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking and said, "Why all this gossipy whispering? Which is simpler: to say 'I forgive your sins,' or to say 'Get up and start walking'? Well, just so it's clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both. . . ."

He now spoke directly to the paraplegic: "Get up. Take your bedroll and go home."

Without a moment's hesitation, he did it—got up, took his blanket, and left for home, giving glory to God all the way.

The people rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then also gave glory to God. Awestruck, they said, "We've never seen anything like that!"

Healing really is a miraculous thing.

When the people in the story saw it, they "rubbed their eyes," and said, "we've never seen anything like that!"

And they hadn't. It was a miracle, this man getting up off of his stretcher and walking home.

But that wasn't the only miracle. We really need to notice Jesus' priorities in this passage. Seeing the faith of the man and his good friends who would not take no for an answer, Jesus said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

Blasphemy in the eyes of the religious experts who filled the room. "Who does he think he is?"

Jesus knew exactly who he was. And he didn't care what they had to say.

The real question becomes, "who do we think we are?"

Forgiveness of sins is just as miraculous as the healing of the body. We only inhabit the body for a time, but forgiveness...reconciliation with God...is eternal.

I do not mean to downplay the possibility of physical healing, or its meaning for those who hurt and are in need. But I have also seen lives turn completely around through faith in Jesus. And that is an amazing thing. It's eye-rubbing, jaw-droppingly miraculous.

What healing miracle do we each need to ask for today?

Prayer: We pray for good friends, like these who lowered the paraplegic right down through the roof. Forgive us, heal us, and give us the gift of healthy life and relationships. Help us to believe so strongly that we will not take no for an answer, settling for a broken life when you can bring healing.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.