Forgiven

And after getting into a boat [Jesus] crossed the sea and came to his own town.

And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” Then some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.” And he stood up and went to his home. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings. (Matthew 9:1-8)

The biggest miracles are the hardest ones to recognize. When a paralyzed man was brought to Jesus, he didn’t tell him that he was healed. Instead, Jesus told him to be encouraged! And why should he be encouraged? Because his paralysis was gone? No, because his sins were forgiven.

Were his sins the reason he was paralyzed? Not at all. And he hadn’t come to Jesus for what seemed his most obvious need. The reason this man came to Jesus, why his friends cut a hole in the roof to make sure he could get to him, had nothing to do with being healed physically. Instead, the paralyzed man came for spiritual healing. He came in order to be forgiven. Jesus saw his faith and the faith of his friends, and on the basis of that faith, he forgave the man.

What happened to the man after he was forgiven was secondary. And it didn’t happen for the sake of the paralyzed man who already believed in Jesus and who already knew that Jesus was in fact God himself. The paralyzed man was relieved of his paralysis for the sake of those who had witnessed him being forgiven, but still didn’t have a clue about who Jesus was.

Getting healed is great, but what matters most of all is being forgiven of our sins. Jesus gave us the greatest gift we could ever want! Having our sins forgiven and being granted eternal life, is the biggest miracle of all.

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