Ping!
“.... As for you, your sins are forgiven (Lk 5:20). What a strange thing to say to a paralyzed man.”
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Hidden and subtle introduction to Jesus’ main mission on earth — the forgiving of our sins.
Healing the cripple was an “added bonus”.
This is incredibly profound!
Have read this and heard this so many times but never “got” it.
If you are ill, — start by going to confession.
If you cannot go, pray, then call the ambulance.
Jesus was merely living up to what the passages stated before he was born:
Psalm 103
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
As usual, I thank you for posting this.
Mankind (me!) have very shallow sight and minds compared to our Lord.
Sin destroys. Sometimes it will destroy your body.
I feel the paralyzed man was carried UNWILLINGLY to Jesus. He knew he had great sin and was terrified and/or humiliated to be face to face with a prophet of God. That was why Jesus said first what He did.