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Advent through Christmas -- 2007

Monday, December 10, Second Week in Advent

Some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” Luke 5:17-26

You know the rest of the story. The scribes and Pharisees think that, when Jesus says “your sins are forgiven,” he is committing blasphemy. After all, only God can forgive sins.

Jesus asks them, “Which is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven” or to say, “Rise and walk?”

Think about it. Which is easier? Don’t answer too quickly.

It’s easier to say, “your sins are forgiven,” because no one can tell if they are forgiven. The harder thing to say is, “rise and walk,” because the result (or lack of result) is easily seen.

So, as a sign that he “has power on earth to forgive sins,” Jesus says to the paralytic: “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”

Which is exactly what the paralytic does.

Jesus can forgive sins. Case closed.

But will he forgive my sins?

Ask him.

Spend some quiet time with the Lord.