As sorry as I am, why does God do so much for me? Do you ever feel like that? Many times we overrate ourselves spiritually and morally. We think we know a lot, yet we know very little. Through it all God still loves us. Heaven can’t contain him. He has no boundaries. Why would he be mindful of us? Why does he work for us?
A question was asked by the Scribes and Pharisees as they tried to figure Jesus out. “Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
Luke 5:17 “And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.”
Who can do anything with sin but God alone? The answer is demonstrated in a fervent way. In this crowd were people from every town in Galilee and Judea. Some couldn’t read or write; others had doctorate degrees. Some were known only as the common man. No matter how different they may have been, in each one of them laid sin of some form or another. Upon this gathering was the power of the Lord, the power to heal. That power came through one man.
As the crowd was that day, we are too. We’re alike in many ways, but we’re very different. We all have needs. We all face battles. In the midst of us all is a teacher, and it’s not me. Because Jesus is here, the power of God is here and can heal us inside and out.
When the crowd heard Jesus speak forgiveness to this man, Jesus asked them why they were reasoning it in their hearts. This is the root problem. It’s a heart problem, and it can’t be reasoned out. We’re in the house today. Are you asking who can help you? Is there anyone who can forgive? Can anyone but God alone?
We cannot do anything on our own. Here was a paralyzed man could do nothing to reverse it. He desired to see Jesus. There was a huge crowd with multitudes of needs, and they were all looking to Jesus. Some were trying to find fault. Some wanted his help. What did this man want? It’s revealed by the first thing Jesus said to him. He knew Jesus was his only chance and that he may never get to see him again. Everything and everybody stood in his way. He and his friends went to a great extent to get him to Jesus. The man was willing to go the extra mile because he knew no one else could help him. He recognized his real problem.
Do you recognize your real problem? Do you know the source of it? When the man was lowered down in front of Jesus, it was obvious what his problem was. He was paralyzed. However, the greater problem was within. The crowd couldn’t see it, but the man did. It’s why he came. It’s the most misunderstood and ignored problem today. It’s debated. It’s the reason people hate God. It encompasses a vast, bottomless pit of deeds, thoughts, and principles. It’s more destructive than we realize. This man’s problem was not from the waist down. It was his SIN.
Jesus looked at these four men. Sure he saw the paralysis, but looking into the man’s eyes he knew the man saw his real problem. He knew he was in bad shape physically, but he realized the infirmity of his soul. There was something wrong with his body, but there was something extremely wrong with his soul. He knew if he didn’t do something about it, he’d go to hell. Jesus had the power to heal that man’s soul, and he knew it.
Do you realize this? People used to believe in sin. If you’re in that shape, you might as well forget about heaven and God. Take a good look at what we are without God—a big pile of sin. I’m sure this man’s physical appearance bothered him, but he could see his sin. He wanted forgiveness if he got nothing else. Jesus complied. “Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.”
That’s a hard thing. Sin stains with a non-removable mark. It injures you. You can’t have peace. It condemns with guilt that can’t be lifted. It’s a crime against God and gets worse and worse. There is no recovery without Jesus. The teacher was in the midst, and he forgave this man. He’s in our midst and offers it to you. The power of sin is great over us, and only ONE power is higher than its dominance. Who can forgive sins but God? Only a deity can reach into man. The only deity is God. Before Jesus touched this man physically, he forgave his sins. They were removed from him, and he was removed from them. Would you like to be removed from yours?
The man still lay on his couch, but his soul was free. Do you want that on the inside? Do you want to be whole, made right with God? Do you want to be happy? Regardless of what life holds, when the soul is right with God, you can be at peace. The Scribes and Pharisees were reasoning when they needed to leave the figuring to Jesus. He saw their faith. Jesus saved him. He figured it out before the foundation of the world. He worked it out on Calvary.
So they would know he had the power to forgive sin, he did something easier. He healed the man. He told him to get off his couch and go home. He went walking home a forgiven man. Who can? God? Absolutely! The same Jesus is in the midst, and if you ask he can set you free just like he did this paralyzed man.
He can do it. He will do it. Only He can.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 