I sometimes wonder what the paralytic, lying there on his cot looking up at Jesus, was feeling and thinking when Jesus looks down at him and says, “Take heart, My son. Be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven.” And that was it.
Was he thinking…”Okay… thanks for that, but what about the whole paralysis problem here? What are you going to do about this, Jesus?” What were his friends thinking? The guys who had such faith in Jesus’ ability to heal that they brought him there. “Your sins are forgiven? That’s it? Don’t embarrass us!”
Admit it: If you were in the same situation, you would probably be disappointed too—maybe even a bit angry—if you went to all this trouble, only to find out that forgiveness of sins was the only thing you were going to get out of all of it.
Sadly, many people continue to feel that way coming to church even today. Why? Because, like these men, many people, maybe even yourself, come to Jesus not to get sins forgiven but to get one’s life fixed or to get what they think they need or want. They come to church when something is seriously broken, and it needs fixing or expecting an earth shattering emotional experience, entertainment and life lessons… and all Jesus does is smile and say, “Be of good cheer! Your sins are forgiven.”
People come to church with all sort of expectations. Maybe they have broken or sick or sore and worn out bodies. Maybe they have broken lives with divorce, dysfunctional family drama, unemployment or financial troubles haunting their minds. Maybe they have broken spirits; with depression, grief/loss of a loved one. Maybe they want to escape it all or get a quick fix. Maybe they want just a pep talk or to hear funny stories or the newest hip Christian songs or only their favorite hymns.
You name it. People often shop for churches that best fit their felt-needs; whether it’s active and cool youth groups, men’s and ladies social organizations, because they have the best singles’ ministry, the best music, the most dynamic preacher. Yet, the Church doesn’t exist to babysit or entertain you or your kids or to facilitate a love connection for singles. Yet people attend churches, not because the Word is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered there for the forgiveness of sins, but because there, their particular itches get scratched even if it what they are getting is not ultimately healthy for their souls.
It is not enough for them to hear Jesus say: “Be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven.” Yeah… thanks for that, but that still doesn’t fix my problem. It doesn’t meet my desired expectations.” Yet this is the most important thing. To hear the Law and then receive the Gospel announcement of Absolution and forgiveness of sins is the starting point for all healing, for joy, strength for heart mind and body in this life and for eternity.
In the Gospel text, Jesus pronounces His holy absolution upon this poor paralytic soul. His sins are forgiven. The scribes immediately began to say to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” “Only God can forgive sins.” That’s exactly what He was doing! Jesus Christ—God in the flesh—was forgiving sins.
Jesus responds: “Why do you think evil in your hearts?” He wants these wicked ones to repent their evil and see who it is who forgives sins. He uses this opportunity to teach about His divinity and the importance of forgiveness for sins as the ultimate need.
Now, pay attention to what Jesus actually says, He asks, “Which is easier to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Rise and walk'”? Jesus says the more difficult thing, right? It’s easy to speak the words of forgiveness, especially if it means nothing. Anyone can “say it” and it mean nothing. Anyone can speak words of forgiveness, but it’s quite another thing, to say, “Rise and walk!” to a paralytic and have it happen. The proof of His power and authority to forgive sins is proven in the healing of the paralytic. Jesus is using logic with these wicked doubters and evil naysayers. If Jesus has the power/authority to actually do the more difficult thing (heal the paralytic), then He most certainly has the power/authority to do the easier thing (forgive sins).
Jesus asks which is easier to say. He doesn’t ask about which is easier to do. Healing the lame, the sick, the blind, the deaf… even raising from the dead was very easy for God. If you look throughout the Old Testament, God worked these miracles through ordinary sinful men such as Elijah. Think about that for a moment. God didn’t even have to physically show up and heal. He simply authorized prophets to simply speak His Word of healing/restoration and it was.
The forgiveness of sins is not so easy as it sounds. Look to this cross and you see. Speaking the command to that paralytic to rise and walk was actually very easy for Jesus. He didn’t even have to be present, if He didn’t want to. He didn’t even have to say a word, if He didn’t want to. He could simply will it from wherever He was at that moment, and it would be done like the servant of the Roman centurion. What about forgiveness though? Yes, Jesus spoke forgiveness and that was it—the guy was instantly and immediately forgiven. But look to that cross. That is where the power to forgive sins comes from. The sins had to be paid for. Now let’s talk about the more difficult thing, not to say, but to do. The earning of forgiveness is more difficult than to heal bodily ailments. Look to that bloodied corpse nailed to that cross. Jesus did the more difficult thing… for you… for the forgiveness of all your sin. When Adam and Eve plunged all of humanity into sin and damnation, God could’ve simply smote them on the spot, wiped the slate clean, and said, “Forget it. Not worth the trouble.” Or He could’ve taken the easy way we so often do and simply turned a blind eye to the sin. “Oh well! They will get their just desserts in Hell. Not my problem anymore.” After all, nobody wants to offend anyone, right? But He cared too much to just destroy them or let them destroy themselves. Instead, He gave up all of heaven’s majesty for flesh and blood. He gave up all of heaven for a virgin’s womb, a manger… a cross. He gave up all the praise of angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven not so that people can have temporary entertainment, their “felt needs met” or to have a fast fleeting and shallow “happiness”. He received ridicule, mockery, slander, and all other kinds of evil so that forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation could be truly accounted to those who receive this gift by faith. Jesus had prayed “Father, if there’s any other way, take this cup from Me!” Don’t tell me this cross was easy for Jesus! He agonized over what He was going to suffer on that cross… and still He did it. Your Lord Christ—God in the flesh—did the way more difficult thing… for you… for the forgiveness of all your sin and all the sins of the entire world.
Saying that it’s “more difficult” is a gross understatement. Jesus did the impossible. He did what no person borne of Adam is capable of doing. He paid the full wage of sin with His perfect life and death. He actually made full and complete atonement for all sin for all time. We can’t even make atonement for one single sin, let alone all our sins. And yet… He does it, not because He needed the forgiveness, but because you need this forgiveness, and He has the only currency that is able to pay the wage of sin: His sacrificed body and His blood given and shed for you on the cross. It is this sacrifice that accomplished forgiveness. It is this precious, valuable, and life giving forgiveness of sins which is proclaimed and doled out here not with slick screens and gimmicks, but in the simple Words of Absolution spoken by a called and ordained sinner in Christ’s stead. Forgiveness of sins is given in the body and blood under the bread and wine. How can we not wonder and see that all our problems, our troubles must find their source of healing and fixing here? It is in this forgiveness of sins given in the anguishing and struggle of the cross of Jesus Christ, which gives you the power of mind and body and soul to wrestle against the problems of any given day. This is where peace from anxiety, grief, and guilt is given: where hope must be born in the midst of sickness, heartache, brokenness and suffering. Jesus Christ has suffered to ease your suffering first by earning and then giving you forgiveness for the sins which you have committed and from which you deserve to receive punishment. This is the greatness of God’s mercy. We deserve our troubles, but He heals us of the root cause by the forgiveness of our sins because of His love… and then He helps us in our other true needs by His power, mercy, and wisdom.
Life on earth could suddenly become absolutely perfect; not a care or worry in the world… and yet if you leave this world without God’s forgiveness, you’ve got nothing but eternal hell awaiting you. You tell me what’s most important! Perhaps, you may go through all of life with everything broken and hardships galore. But no matter how bad things may get, you have God’s forgiveness. Be of good cheer! Take heart! Your sins are forgiven! It is the most important thing from which all other gifts flow. Look to this cross. Look to the baptismal font. Look to this altar/communion rail. Here is Christ for you. Here is your blood-bought gift of forgiveness of sins. “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Pr. Aaron Kangas