Which Is Easier: To Forgive or to Heal?

Some of the teachers of the law didn’t like what was happening,

And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." [Matthew 9:3].

There were about 6,000 Pharisees, called "separated ones," throughout Israel. They were the teachers in the synagogues, religious examples, self-appointed guardians of the law and its proper observance. They considered their own interpretations and regulations, handed down by tradition, to be virtually as authoritative as Scripture.

Their criticism and alarm was understandable. Here was a mere man having the impudence to usurp God’s position on the mercy seat, dispensing forgiveness for sin!

It was total blasphemy.

Only God can forgive sin.

The scribes had it right.

If Jesus was not God then He was either terribly evil, a blasphemer of the worst kind, in league with the prince of demons, or He was truly God.

Jesus knew their thoughts,

"Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he then said to the paralytic—"Rise, pick up your bed and go home." [Matthew 9:4-7]

By asking them which was easier, to heal or forgive, Jesus made the point that both were equally impossible for a mere man, and equally easy to God. When Jesus told the paralytic his sins were forgiven, the paralytic,
(1) according to God's promises in the Bible, was cleansed of all unrighteousnes by grace.
(2) He was also empowered by Jesus, now justified and cleansed, with the desire and the ability to apply Jesus' word to his life.

Jesus told him to get up, pick up his bed and go home.
* He listened to Jesus,
* he believed
* and he obeyed.

The friends of the paralytic believed Jesus could heal their friend, and Jesus responded to their faith by forgiving their friend's sin, who received God’s forgiveness, cleansing and enabling power in his life.

Jesus responded to the evil in the scribes' hearts by demonstrating His authority as the Son of Man. It's what they really needed, to experience new life and the fulfillment of God's promises in their lives, but they rejected Jesus' teaching.

Jesus has both the compassion and the authority to forgive your sin

The crowd was overcome

When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. [Matthew 9:8]

The word translated as “fear” means "reverential awe;" as one author put it, "stark terror mingled with inexpressible joy," breathless awe and intense joy, so that people were overcome with a sense of wonder and adoration.

What is your response to Jesus’ forgiveness, His commands to you, and His powerful enabling of you to obey?

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Jesus Forgives and Heals

The Lord Jesus was probably teaching in Peter’s home at the beginning of this chapter,

And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. [Matthew 9:2a]

What is your response to great need in the people in your life? How involved are you willing to get, to help them?

Typically, a Palestinian house had a flat roof accessible by means of an outside staircase. The roof was often made of a thick layer of clay supported by mats of branches across wooden beams. As Jesus was teaching, the crowd would have noticed dust and bits of clay begin to fall from the ceiling, and then, as the ceiling tiles were removed a beam of sunlight would have surrounded Jesus. As all watched in dismay, down came the paralyzed man, right in front of Jesus.

As the Lord looked up, He read their hearts

And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." [Matthew 9:2b]

This was not the way Jesus usually healed people. Usually He physically healed them first. But Jesus must have seen how feelings of guilt and concern over sin were this man’s first and most prominent problem.

What Jesus said to him uncovered this man's deepest need. It wasn’t to walk. What he really needed was to know and experience God’s forgiveness. Jesus gave him release from his spiritual paralysis, deliverance from guilt and sin, to enter into a life of communion with God and to be assured of God's eternal favor.

What might be paralyzing you right now?
* How often do you bring your own sins to Christ, seeking His forgiveness?
* Do you allow the burden of your sin to weigh you down, to paralyze your spiritual life, so you're just not able to get up and walk that part of your faith?
* Or do you come to Jesus as often as possible, desiring the joy of God's forgiveness, knowing what it is for God to be pleased with you?

Sometimes a person believes God simply can’t forgive them. You believe in your heart that what you’ve done is just too awful, or you’ve done it too many times, and you’re discouraged. But the truth is that when you confess your sin, God says in the Bible that He does forgive you, and cleanses you from all unrighteousness.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [1 John 1:9]

Sometimes a person believes that if they feel something is true, it must be true.

-->If I feel unloved, I must be unloved.
-->If I feel unforgiven, I must be unforgiven.
-->If I feel like my situation is hopeless, then it must really be hopeless.

Maybe that’s how the paralytic felt, he was so depressed and so discouraged, that he was numb with hopelessness.

But the truth is our feelings do not dictate reality. The truth is God is good whether you and I feel like He is or not. He loves you even when you don’t feel loved. As soon as you confess your sin, the Bible says, He forgives you, even when you don’t feel forgiven. The Bible says that you and I are to think only about what is true, and then the peace of God will be with us,

...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.[Philippians 4:8-9]

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Blended Gospels: Jesus Heals a Paralytic

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.

As he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, carried by four men. And they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus.

But finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.

And when he saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven you."

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question in their hearts, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Why does this man speak like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

And immediately Jesus perceived their thoughts, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves. He answered them, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he said to the man who was paralyzed—"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home."

And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on, went went out before them all and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, they were afraid, and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen extraordinary things today. We never saw anything like this!" They glorified God who had given such authority to men.

[Matthew 9:2-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26 ESV]

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Jesus' Training Through Prayer, Teaching And Acts of Mercy

Jesus’ greatest ministry was to His disciples, training them to carry on the work of the gospel when He would go into heaven.

With His disciples now learning from Him, Jesus added teaching to His preaching, explaining what scripture was saying, and how it pertained to Messiah, what Messiah was doing and would do:

And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom [Matthew 4:23a]

Jesus taught with authority and with power

...healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. [Matthew 4:23b-24]

Everywhere Jesus and His disciples went He brought the gospel, blessing and restoration to everyone who came to Him.

And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.[Matthew 4:25]

God's word is living and powerful to direct our lives

If you have the Holy Spirit, then you will have something to show for it. Fruitfulness in someone else’s life follows faithfulness in your own private life, for remember that before He would teach, preach and heal the Lord Jesus would find a way to get alone with the Father and pray. Jesus received from the Father all that He needed in power and wisdom to carry out His mission.

In what ways is God’s word bearing fruit in your life, and bringing blessing and restoration in others’ lives?

Jesus knows what it is like to be in the press, to go through the painful process of disciplining His appetites, and resisting temptation. The obedience Jesus learned He taught to His disciples and He is ready to teach to you if you will only ask Him. He will fill you with His life so that you will know the Father’s pleasure as you call out to Him for rescue and ask Him to help you hang onto obedience.

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Jesus Ministering Throughout A Long And Full Sabbath

Jesus' power is not limited to driving out demons. He also has authority over every disease, and over life itself. All the Lord Jesus had to do was rebuke the fever, displaying His power and authority once again. The effects of His command were immediate. Peter's mother-in-law was instantly well, filled with energy and gratitude.

As the Sabbath wore on, Jesus continued to heal without a break. There were so many people with their sick and ailing, and the demon-possessed, shrieking and flailing, and the bustling, crowding activity, that there was no longer even standing room within Peter's house -- people were pressing each other outside the door, for

"...the whole city was gathered together at the door" [Mark 1:33]

Jesus showed that His power and authority were not flukes, not coincidences, not luck, but a steady flowing stream of healing and liberation. He gave of Himself completely to all those in need, fighting evil with love and compassion, as

"He laid his hands on every one of them healing them all" [Luke 4:40]

In what area of your life do you need Jesus' overflowing mercy, love and compassion to bring healing and liberation? All you need to do is come to Him in your need, believe in His power and authority, and receive His healing touch.

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The Miracle In Capernaum Was Faith

The Bible teaches that we are to move from faith to faith The official had started out with a crisis of faith. He was about to lose his son and he had no one to go to but Jesus.

His crisis of faith became confident faith when he decided to take Jesus at His word. He believed Jesus and experienced peace in his heart. He was even able to delay his trip home rather than rush off in an anxious panic, because of his confidence in Jesu' word.

Then his confident faith became confirmed faith when he found out that his son had been completely healed, and at that very moment when Jesus had spoken the word.

The official shared first with his servants, and then with the rest of his family, resulting in the conversion of his entire household. The official moved his faith from Jesus' specific power to heal a sick boy, to a deeper faith of Jesus as a person, the Messiah.

Read how John put it all together,

The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." And he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. (John 4:53-54)

This miracle of faith in the official and his entire household, confirmed by the healing of his son, was Jesus' second sign.

Meeting the spiritual need is always Jesus' priority

* In what ways is the Lord moving you from faith to faith?

* Are you in a crisis of faith? Then what word of Jesus do you need to believe this week?

* Have you moved to confident faith? Then what do you need to do this week to show your trust in Jesus?

* Are you experiencing confirmation of your faith? Then who around you needs to hear you say so, this week, telling them the glorious things Jesus is doing right now?

True satisfaction is not found in having our needs met in the way we think they should be met. Relief may feel like satisfaction for a while. But true satisfaction, the deep and lasting kind, can only come through faith in Jesus, personally relating to Jesus and doing His will.

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Jesus Healed the Capernaum Official's Son From Afar

Jesus, because He is God, could easily restore life at a distance. The word of His power spans distance, time, life and even death. The healing power of Jesus is not limited by geography. He is never so far away that He cannot answer your prayers.

Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." (John 4:50a)

Doesn't it seem like Jesus wanted this miracle to seem as unmiraculous as possible? "You don't have to see to believe. First believe -- then you will see," Jesus seemed to say.

John called this Jesus' second sign, but possibly the real miracle is what happened in the official's heart,

The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. (John 4:50b)

Here is an illustration of true faith. The official decided to believe, and the servants, twenty miles away, saw the immediate healing.

It was a real miracle, a stunning one. The man believed the witness of Jesus and acted upon it. He simply trusted what Jesus said to be true and went about his business, He believed without the evidence of a sign or miracle. This is what Jesus consideered to be a strong and more appropriate faith.

For whatever reason, the man did not return to Capernaum the day his son was healed, but instead found a place to spend the night. It's possible that it was too late in the day to start the twenty mile trip home. In any case, the official waited until the next day to start home, and met his servants along the way. The father thought his son would gradually improve,

So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, (John 4:52a)

But above and beyong his expectations, the servants replied,

"Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." (John 4:52b)

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The Official's Need For Stronger Faith

After His two-day retreat with the Samaritans it was time for Jesus and His disciples to continue on to Galilee. Here, John wrote, in parentheses,

(For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) (John 4:44)

And yet the very next verse says that the Galileans welcomed Him. What was John trying to say, then? The Samaritans had put their faith in Jesus as the prophet Moses had prophesied, as the Savior of the world. They didn't need any signs to believe.

Now look at why the Galileans welcomed the Lord: because they had

...seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. (John 4:45b)

They didn't know Jesus for His teaching, or for Who He was. They were just glad to have the miracle worker in town.

Jesus and His disciples made their way to Cana, which was Nathanael's home town, very likely to revisit friends and family,

...where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. (John 4:46-47)

This man was likely an official of Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee.

It's possible this is the same person we read about in Luke 8, Herod's steward Chuza, whose wife Joanna helped provide for Jesus' ministry. Or, he might have been Herod's foster brother Manaen, from Acts 13, who was one of the early leaders in the church. In either case, this is how the Lord became connected with his life.

Capernaum was twenty miles away, so this official had spent all day getting to Jesus. He was worried about his little boy, and he had come to Jesus for a miracle. It was his last-ditch chance to save his child's life.

Imagine the scene.

Jesus was probably at Nathanael's house with His disciples around Him. Others were there because of Jesus' fame for performing these signs. Now a royal official had arrived and wanted to take Jesus all the way back to Capernaum to heal his son. Imagine Jesus looking at the crowd around Him, then saying,

"Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe."

That seems like a harsh answer to a father who's on the verge of losing his son!

You know the saying, "seeing is believing." The official took it for granted that Jesus would have to go to Capernaum to heal his son. He was convinced that Jesus' power did not extend beyond His immediate surroundings. He also thought that all would be lost if his little boy died. So whatever faith this official had, it was not in the person of the Lord Jesus, Messiah, God the Son. It was the kind of faith you might put into a miracle worker.

A faith based on miracles is a weak faith. A faith based on what that sign points to is biblical faith. Miracles should never be a substitute for the person from Whom that power comes: the Lord Jesus, Messiah, God the Son. Miracles are secondary and they should have a secondary place in our lives to trust.

Jesus' purpose for this official was not just for his little boy to be healed. After all, that little boy would one day grow up and die of something else. We all eventually die of something. When God doesn't seem to meet your urgent need, there there is a spiritual need that is even more urgent. Jesus' purpose for this man, and his household, was to have eternal life.

So the Lord challenged the official to a stronger faith, to take Jesus at His word, even without any visible change or sign. "Don't just believe in what I can do for your little boy," Jesus was saying, "Believe in Who I AM!"

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