1Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town.2Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”3But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?”
4Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?5Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?6So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
7And the man jumped up and went home!8Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority.
Perhaps this is the debater in me coming out, but someday someone may try to tell you that Jesus never claimed to be God, but in this passage He clearly does. As a matter of fact, I think He purposefully first told the paralyzed man that his sins were forgive, just to make His claim to be God. The teachers of religious law knew exactly what Jesus was claiming.
But what is the Holy Spirit saying to me in this passage today? First, I notice how bad the religious teachers wanted to catch Jesus doing something wrong. I’ve done that to others. I’ve put people under a microscope and examined their every move hoping to point out their errors. And I am most likely to do that to those I am closest to in life – my family. Lord forgive me! “Why do you have such evil thought in your heart?” I don’t know Lord, change my heart.
I have also been the one under the microscope. We all have. Jesus does prove the teachers wrong, but look at how he does it. He is calm, not angry. He makes his point, accepts his situation, does his good deed, and goes on. His the Son of God. He knew their own sins and faults. He could have exposed and embarrassed them. But He didn’t. Jesus rebuked them, but didn’t hurt them. How many of them someday later became Christians because Jesus acted toward His opponents with Love? Lord, help me to be so kind. Beginner’s Online Bible Study *obbs*
