“But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2:10-12).

One day Jesus came to Capernaum, a northern seashore of the Sea of Galilee. People heard He is there at Home and a large number of people gathered. There was no room left inside the home, and the outside of the house was also packed that it was impossible to go through the door to go inside the house. People were listening to the word of God He was preaching. Then came four men carrying a paralyzed man and brought him to Jesus for healing. They were so determined to bring him to Jesus because they knew that he can get healing from Jesus. We do not know for sure who took the first step. Maybe the man asked his friends to take him to Jesus. They all believed Jesus was able to heal this man. Therefore four men climbed on the roof of the house through the stairs on the side of the house and made an opening in the ceiling above where Jesus was standing and preaching. They dug a hole through the stone tile roof and then lowered the paralytic man on his mat right in front Jesus from the rooftop. Amazing!

Here is the man right in front of him while he was preaching inside the house. Bible says Jesus saw their faith. He did not get upset or angry because they dug a hole above him on the roof and brought him down. Instead, the first sentence said to the paralyzed man was, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” The friends brought the man to Jesus for his healing not necessarily for the forgiveness of sins. However, Jesus who sees the heart of all saw the heart of the paralytic man and his urgent need for forgiveness of sins. Most probably, I think the man knew about his sins and may have thought his sins caused the paralytic condition. His heart may have been feeling guilty of his past sin all these years. Therefore, the one who sees the heart and understands what is there saw his need. In such a situation, it was highly needed to forgive his sins first. If Jesus just gave him miraculous healing and sent home, it would not help his guilty conscious for the rest of his life. He would still feel guilty and horrible all the rest of his life. Jesus knew he needed the forgiveness of sins. You see, Jesus knew our hearts and thoughts. He ministers to us so that we would be well as a whole person. Are you feeling guilty about the sin of your past? Do you have burdens from the past? Jesus would never point fingers at you and blame you for your past sins. Did He do that to this man? No, Jesus called lovingly and compassionately, “Son.”

Moreover, the man heard what he needed to hear. He needed to hear that his sins were forgiven so that he could feel free from his guilty conscious. He heard it from the one who has the authority to forgive sins and free him from his guilty conscious. What a blessing! Beloved, did you go to Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins? Stay with me; I will give you a moment to do that today in a small prayer.

Now when Jesus said this, the religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees, who were waiting for an occasion to discredit Jesus, thought in their heart “who is this fellow? Who he think he is? Who can forgive sin but God alone?” Some self-made religious leaders possess this type of pharisaical attitude even in today’s circle looking for an opportunity to discredit sincere workers/missionaries of the Lord. Jesus knew the heart of the Pharisees as well and said to them, why are you thinking in your heart? Which is easier? To say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? Pharisees always did the easy thing- they just talked good things, thought about themselves superior to others, sat in chief seats and offered public prayers, but could never prove or validate their teachings with an action. Our today’s Bible insight appears here, “Then he said I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sin. He said to the paralytic man, get up, take your mat and walk. He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!

The insight from today’s passage is this. Pharisees were right in their statement that only God can forgive sins. However, they failed to understand and believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who has the authority to forgive sins. Secondly, as other incidents prove in the Bible, all sickness and infirmities are not caused by sin, but some are. Lord knows all the details and our hearts. Thirdly, the forgiveness of our sins is more important than just miraculous healing. Our sins are the primary issue in the sight of God. Bible says in Isaiah 59:2,” It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.” This is the reason why Jesus came to this world to die in our place for our sins and make us free and with no condemnation. Forgiveness of our sins make us free of our guilty conscious and grants us the freedom to love and serve God in this life. Besides, it gives us eternal life in heaven at the moment of our death. Since we do not know the day of our departure, get connected to the savior of the world, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who can forgive our sins and grant us eternal life in heaven.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God who can forgive the sins of my life. I believe Jesus died and rose again for all of my sins. I accept Him as my savior and Lord today. Please save me. (Now if you have a prayer request, say to the Lord now. I will give you a few seconds). Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”