Lord’s Day, Vol. 13 No. 49
Power to Forgive Sins
Luke 5:17-26 (KJV) And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
There man stricken with palsy. He was a helpless paralysed man. For when one loses his mobility, life seemed to have come to a stand-still. He is dependent upon others to help him. This man had friends who love him and wanted to really help him. They knew that of the power of the Lord to heal and so brought him to see Jesus. However, though Jesus was near, yet his ailing friend could not come near to him because of the multitude.
By an extraordinary means, they carried him to the roof top of the house on a stretcher and opening a substantial hole in the roof, they were able to slowly lower him from the roof into the house where Jesus was. His friends were very determined to help him. They spared no effort to help their friend in need. These were true friends indeed!
Jesus was their greatest Friend. Jesus healed the man physically and healed him spiritually. By the command to the paralytic man – “Arise and walk”. His legs gained strength and he was able to walk again. More importantly, Jesus healed his diseased soul that was stricken with sin. Through Jesus, the man’s sins were forgiven.
The scribes and Pharisees questioned and were in doubt as to how Jesus could forgive a man’s sin. It was the prophet Isaiah who answers this question how Jesus could forgive sins – Isaiah 53:4-6 (KJV) Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Also, Isaiah 53:10-11 (KJV) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Isaiah revealed that Jesus would come upon earth to become man’s sin-bearer when He was finally crucified on the cross at Calvary to bear the penalty for man’s sin. He was fully man to represent man and was fully God to be the mediator between God and man – 1 Timothy 2:5 (KJV) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Jesus is God’s appointed Mediator between God and man. Only Jesus qualifies and has the power to forgive sins as the God-Man. He made atonement for man’s sin by His personal sacrifice of His life on our behalf to pay the penalty for our sins that we cannot pay. Jesus was sinless man, He was that unblemished Lamb that will be slain to take away man’s sin. All who repent of their sins and accept His sacrifice on their behalf shall have their sins forgiven. They are to go and sin no more! So must we. Come to Jesus that you may be cleansed of all your sins by His precious blood that was shed for the forgiveness, or disannulling of your sins. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee