Forgiveness of Sins

A message from Luke 5:17-26 by Dave Rogers 17/06/07

To listen to Dave's message click here mp3

Last week we heard how Jesus healed the leper, and sent him on his way. The news got out about this amazing healing, and spread throughout Galilee and Judea. Crowds flocked to hear Jesus teach and to be healed of their sicknesses. How crazy life had become for Jesus so he often retreated from the crowds to quiet lonely places, where he could talk to his Father and pray.
One day Pharisees and teachers of the law had gathered from all over Galilee to a home and invited Jesus to teach. The house was packed, people were sitting in the windows, standing in the doorways and surrounding the house wanting to hear the words of the teacher, or hoping to see a miracle. Jesus unpacked the scriptures in an amazing way they had never heard before. They asked questions about the law, the scriptures and life.
As Jesus was teaching he felt a prompting of the Spirit. There was power for him to heal the sick. Jesus spent time alone with his Father and the Spirit, and knew when they spoke to him. Pictures may have come to mind, or words of knowledge, "Is there someone here with a broken left arm"? Yes came the reply as a man pushed to the front through the crowd, “Stretch out your arm” An instantly healing. The news got out! Jesus is praying for the sick! Bring the sick and they will be made well!
Now a paralysed man had some mates who heard about Jesus. "Lets take him to this Jesus, he'll make him well!” So they carried their friend on his mat to the house where Jesus was. When they got there after a tiring walk, lugging their mate, they saw this crowd all round the house. They tried to get to the door through the crowd but could not get through the people all jostling to see Jesus. They went round the back to find another way in, but people were crowding round the windows too. “What do we do?” “Let’s leave it? We’ll never get him to Jesus.” “What a waste of time carrying him all this way!” “No! We must find a way to get him to Jesus, he can heal him!” Putting the paralysed guy down they thought for a moment. They noticed the outside steps that went up to the roof of the house and picking up their pal they pushed through to the stairway and up they climbed. Down below Jesus is healing the sick, when all of a sudden there comes a scratching sound from above, then a ripping sound, bits of mud and straw started to fall from the ceiling. Sunlight beamed through a little hole, which grew, four heads peering through at the surprised people below. The sunlight disappeared, and a mat filled the hole, down it came bit by bit, lowered by those four men who moments earlier were peering in. There on the mat at Jesus feet lay a paralysed man. What an effort, what persistence! They went to extremes for their friend. While the people look incredulous as such cheek! Jesus looked up at the four friends peering down at him. He saw their faith so determined to get their mate to Jesus, born out of love and compassion, and he smiled at them. Then looking down at the man laying at his feet , he didn’t see faith and expectations, but eyes full of sadness and hopelessness. Seeing past his physical condition, he looked by the Spirit into this man's heart. He sees pain, shame, condemnation and guilt and the ridicule he has felt through the years. The beliefs of the time have wounded this man, “Who's sin is to blame for your disability? Your own sin or the sins of your family?” The man looks up at Jesus and Jesus spoke to him, knowing that he needed assurance. “Friend, Your sins are forgiven”. The words cut through all the hurt in his heart. His spirit lept as he realised the truth in these words! He sighed. It was as if a great weight had been taken off of his shoulders, His sins are forgiven! He smiled back up at Jesus.

All of a sudden there was murmuring. Remember the room was full of Pharisees and teachers of the Law who were thinking: "Who does this man think he is"! Only God can forgive sins! This is Blasphemy!” Again Jesus smiled, he knew exactly what they were thinking. He asked them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven, your slate is clean with God, or to say Get up and walk"? With scowling faces they glanced round at each other shaking their heads in disapproval. Jesus continued, "Just so you know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins", addressing the man on the mat. "Get up and walk, roll up you mat and go home". Silence fell over the room, the four friends peering through the hole in the roof held their breath. As soon as Jesus had spoken, the man got up, stood for all to see, picked up his mat and left that place praising God. Not only had he been healed, he knew that his sins were forgiven. His mates ran down the stairs to meet him they all celebrated together, dancing together with joy! The whole crowd were amazed. WOW what a day, all these people healed, people forgiven of their sins. They were shouting out "Praise the Lord! What an awesome God we have, we've never seen anything like this before! Glory to God"!

What a great story!
1. God uses us to help bring our friends or family to Jesus. These friends were PERSISTENT. They didn't give up when there was no way though. Their love went to extreme lengths to get him to Jesus. How persistent and extreme are we? God often acts in someone’s life because of the faith of another, - a grandmother, a parent, a spouse, or a friend who prays, causing God to work in them to bring them to Christ. How can we get God's attention for those we love? How do we ‘lower those loved ones through the roof to Jesus feet’? Is anyone on our hearts that we long to bring to Jesus? Don’t always look for the front door into Jesus presence. We may need to make a hole in the roof. We've tried conventional ways - guest services, social events etc, but if we are desperate to see someone find Jesus, God may show us the unconventional way to get to him.
2. Jesus sees where we need healing deep in our hearts - broken hearted, abused, spiritually impoverished, bound up by the evil one with guilt, shame, fear, feelings of worthlessness and condemnation. Jesus saw that he needed to deal with this first to bring him to the place to be healed physically. Jesus wants to heal us but sometimes things like guilt, unworthiness and fear get in the way. Jesus wants to free some of us from these strongholds today and assure us that: our sins are forgiven, we are totally accepted in Christ, there is no condemnation, that God loves us unconditionally. This is the truth that sets us free!!.
3. How do we respond when we see people healed or realising that their sins are forgiven? What joy this man and his friends felt at the end of this story. Even the Pharisees were amazed and ended up praising God! Let’s not hold back with British reserve and restraint! If heaven rejoices when a single person repents and realises that they are completely forgiven, lets join in! Let’s rejoice with amazement at what God does for all of us!