Luke 5:23 (KJV)
Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
We discover in this passage a key to Christian faith and life. Both:
- Thy sins be forgiven thee and
- Rise up and walk
are impossible declarations. Only God could do either.
The crippled man’s friends brought him to Jesus, seeking his healing. That was their priority. So many people believe that the purpose of faith is “health, wealth, and prosperity.” Among the believers with whom I fellowship, we would deny it, but observation bears out it’s still the thing for which we hope. We may bring a friend to church hoping they get saved, but we also hope that, in salvation, they will find happiness, deliverance from sin, healing in their marriage, and so on. I am not criticizing; I’m just saying.
Jesus did not immediately heal this man. What He did was forgive his sins. The faith of his friends did not instantly translate to healing his paralysis but in the forgiveness of sin.
It was not in response to their faith that the friend was healed. Jesus only did that as a sign for the Jews. Paul tells us that the need for such signs has passed.
The miracle of sins forgiven happens very often, every time a lost person is saved. It is the miracle for which we ought to pray and the one for which we ought to bring our friends to Jesus. Believing that our friends and loved ones can find forgiveness and eternal life; this is the one reason we ought to get people to church and to the Lord.
If God does any other wonderful thing in their life, is an incidental matter. It’s not the thing “to write home about.” The miracle that Jesus sets as His own priority is the forgiveness of their sins.
To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.
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Luke 5:23 Jesus Has a Priority Too
