Luke 5:21

New International Version

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

For Meditation

It is interesting how Jesus handled the healing of the paralytic whose friends brought to Him for healing. The crowd in the room where He was ministering was huge, and like Zacchaeus, the four friends could not access the front door. They had faith in the ability of Jesus to heal their friend, so they did the unlikely — remove a few tiles from the rooftop and drop their friend in front of Jesus. Now, that will give him attention and priority! Why then didn’t Jesus heal the man and let him go home? Why did He go the forgiveness way first?

It was a matter of exercising His authority over two things: the man’s sinfulness, which the people couldn’t see, and his paralysis people could see. His purpose in the method He employed was to lead the people to recognize His true identity as the One who alone has the authority to forgive sin and to heal our infirmities.

Jesus shocked the Pharisees and the teachers of the law when He said,

“Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

What! Who can forgive sins but God (21)?

You got it right, our learned friends, for that is what Jesus is leading you to know—that He is God.

The questions Jesus posed to our learned friends spoke to His authority over sin and physical challenges. He meant by those questions that it would have been easier to heal the man and let him go home. However, he had a weightier condition to deal with. The man needed forgiveness for his sins before He touched his physical need.

Sin has eternal consequences, but physical malady discomforts people now and does not follow anyone to heaven. Therefore, Jesus dealt with the heart before the body. Just feel the lightness and joy when the burden of sin gets lifted off you, and then you will recognize the kindness and wisdom of God.

So, let Christ bring your heart, mind, and body together so you can have intimacy with God in a new and exhilarating way. He invites you to come to Him for healing and any other need of yours, but be ready for the shock of your life when He first touches your heart for cleansing.

God desires for you to love Him, even if He doesn’t heal you. But it is only your absolute faith in His sovereignty that can position you in this way with Him through Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Shalom.