God, Saviour, Healer

“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
And he arose, and departed to his house.
But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” (Matthew 9:2-8)

This story is also told in Mark 2 and Luke 5. Mark 2:2 says so many people had come to see Jesus that “…there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.” The palsied man had four friends who had brought him to Jesus. When they could not get through the door, “…they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.” (Mark 2:4)

Imagine being in the house, listening to Jesus. Suddenly you notice pieces of debris falling from the ceiling. You look up and see people punching a hole through the roof! Next, a man in a bed is lowered down through the hole by people on the roof with ropes. He must have really wanted to see Jesus!

Jesus did not heal the man right away. Rather, He said, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Mark 2:6-7 then says, “But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?” They didn’t believe Jesus was God, so they thought His claim of power to forgive sins was blasphemy.

The scribes may have been there specifically to accuse, since Jesus made it clear that the clergy did not tell people the truth. He had said, “…That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)

Then Jesus, knowing the scribes’ thoughts, asked them, “Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?” Neither one would he possible, IF Jesus were just a man. But if He were God, He could do both, which He did.

Then He said, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” Jesus did the second miracle of healing to prove He was God and was capable of doing the first miracle of forgiving sins.

Before Jesus was born, an angel told Joseph the carpenter that Mary’s child was conceived of the Holy Ghost, “…and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) The name “Jesus” means “God saves.” Jesus is God. He forgives sins and saves souls.

The man’s palsy was a problem. His need for forgiveness was a bigger problem. Not all people have physical infirmity, but we all need God’s forgiveness for sins. Do you know Jesus as your personal Saviour? Do you have forgiveness for your sins? Are you sure of going to heaven? If you want to know more, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?

Brian Miller 8/23/2023

Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Oio 44144 216/671-2822