Who Can Forgive Sins?

Mark 2:5-7 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Pastor JJ’s sermon series through the book of Mark comes to chapter 2. Jesus is like a diamond in that He has many facets of Himself reveled, depending on what angle He takes or that we look at Him. Many claimed authority, but Jesus proved His authority in His teachings. Matthew 5 is a prime example when Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said … but I tell to you …”. Jesus is speaking of not following the “letter” of God’s Law while ignoring the “spirit” of the Law; not Pharisaical externalism, while breaking them inwardly. His authority was not the Rabbinic tradition, but correct interpretation of God’s Word and intent of that Word. An interpretation that had compassion upon the sinner. Jesus saw their faith, not of the paralyzed man, but of those who brought the man to Him to be healed. But Jesus forgives his sins first. Why? There was something bigger going on than the physical condition of the man. But who has authority to forgive sins? Every Israelite knew that forgiveness of sin was given to Almighty God and God alone. As Creator, it was His job and God was the only one who can do it. Who knows if sins are forgiven?

Mark 2:8-9 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 

What’s easier, healing spiritually or healing physically? We cannot see sins forgiven and would never know if ones sins are really forgiven because that is a spiritual realm issue and God only knows. All we know is that which is physical to our senses. To say “pick up your mat and walk” is easy to see the results and see them immediately. This man had no hope and no chance to walk again naturally. But what we think is reality points to the real reality of Heaven. Jesus, the Christ, was explaining that He has total authority of the spiritual and the physical, not as a human Rabbi bound to this world, but fully God and fully man both.

Mark 2:10-12 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!”

There is something more to Jesus then they and we are seeing in connecting the spiritual realm to the physical. Jesus could have started the “Jesus Club”, with the focus on Himself, but directed all the attention, praise and glory up to God the Father. What He did should point us to the Kingdom of God in true faith; not just in an intellectual assent). We need to examine our lives and ask ourselves: “Is there something more going on and is there something that I should be doing because of this truth?” the spiritual us real and eternal, but the physical is temporal and passing away. Where are we investing our time, our talents and our treasures today? Focus on what God wants in our lives – past the physical and to the spiritual that is “behind the scenes” running it all. If you become too focused on the “here and now” things of this earth, know that all shall bow the knee and give account to the eternal reality of God in Heaven. Remember that our Christian lives are defined by the sinful past, but by Jesus Christ, who has authority to forgive sins. The repentant sinner is saved by the grace of God through faith in the “finished” work of atoning redemption of Jesus Christ, and this is real in every part of us because His loving arms is the source of all reality.

John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

 In Christ, Brian