" And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four" Here is a picture of man in his utter helplessness. So helpless he had to be borne of four. We have seen man under the power of an unclean demon. We have seen him also in the picture of the leper, wholly depraved: his very nature sin. And with all man's pretense and religiousness and morality, there is no truth or honesty until we own that we are utterly loathsome and depraved. The word of God says it is so, and our consciences and experience bear witness to the truth in all its terrible malignity. But what is even still more distressing to a soul, if possible, is this: that when a soul is awakened by the Spirit of God to its real condition, and longs to do right, it yet finds it has no power. The man sick of the palsy was just a picture of this. He was in a bad helpless case, and he longed to be healed. His friends took pity on him, and (well for him) they brought him to the only One who could give him strength. Oh, that many a helpless soul may get a lift to Jesus in reading this paper, as he did by his friends.
It is most uncommon to bring a helpless soul straight to Jesus. He is generally told to do the best he can. Or he is taken anywhere rather than to Jesus.
It may be fairly asked: But do the scriptures teach that man is helpless as to the things of God? Indeed, they do most distinctly: " For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." (Rom. 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6).) Yea, as to all that is good, we were "dead in trespasses and sins." (Eph. 2:1, 51And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (Ephesians 2:1)
5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:5); Col. 2:1313And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (Colossians 2:13).) “And you being dead in your sins." The condition also of man under law is fully described in Rom. 7:5-235For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (Romans 7:5‑23). And though quickened, he has to say: " how to perform that which is good I find not.” Such is the condition of man; and the law cannot help him. " For I know that in me, (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing." Oh Lord, Thou knowest that by nature this is the troth, men are slaves of Satan, full of sin, and have no power; and Thou, Lord Jesus, alone couldst meet our threefold lost condition.
Whether we are sick of palsy or sick of sin, we cannot make a single movement to save ourselves. Is your case as bad as this? Do not say, My case would be too bad for Jesus. There are no cases too bad for Him. They brought this desperate, helpless case to Jesus. There were difficulties in the way: what a crowd to get through then, and what a crowd to get through now. Faith overcomes all difficulties. See how they resolutely push through the crowd. If you would bring a helpless sin-sick soul to Jesus, you must pass through the crowd of popes, councils, bishops, priests, &a, and bring him to Jesus: do not stop short or he is lost. " And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it tip, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay." That was earnest, overcoming faith. It was that faith which is the gift of God, and Jesus knew it. Just see, they not only let the man down, but they let down the very bed on which he rested. Down he went, and down it went, down to the feet of Jesus.
Oh it is a great thing to be let down, and the very thing on which we have been resting also let down to the feet of Jesus. What is your bed, reader? Is there anything on which you rest? Though you have to be carried to the very top of the house where Jesus is—and what a house Christendom has become—the roof must be uncovered, and down you must go. It is not up you must rise; no, down you must go to the very feet of Jesus. How many make a bed of baptism, how many more of what they call holy communion, others of religiousness and formality. Whatever it is you rest in or on, whatever is your bed, it must go down; both you and it must lie at the feet of Jesus.
But hark, there was something this poor helpless man needed even before power to walk, and Jesus knew it. You, too, may be earnestly desiring power to walk in the commands, and according to the will of God; but there is something Jesus knows you want first. What is that? Let us hear what He says to the helpless one, sick with the palsy: " Son [or child], thy sins be forgiven thee." Another word is added in Matthew: " Child, be of good cheer [or courage]; thy sins be forgiven thee." (Matt. 9:22And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. (Matthew 9:2).) This was the first thing he needed, is it not the first thing we need? He did not say, Rise and walk, and then I will forgive thy sins. He does not say to us, Arise up first and walk in my commandments, then I will forgive thy sins. Yet have you not thought it was so; yea, that that was the gospel? He needed strength to walk; but the deepest need of man's soul when brought to Jesus is first the forgiveness of his sins.
It is a blessed thing then when a helpless sinner, without strength, is brought and let down with all that ever he rested on at the feet of Jesus. None around him but Jesus may hear or know the deep groan of his heart burdened with sins. Jesus knows it. He speaks straight to the point at once—what cheering words: " Child, have courage, thy sins be forgiven thee." Oh what peace, what blessedness! How sad to think that this blessedness has been lost for long centuries to thousands. It is the privilege, and mark, of the youngest child of God. " I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." (1 John 2:1212I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:12).) Thus if your sins are not forgiven, you are not one of the children of God.
This must be so, as forgiveness of sins is preached through the death and resurrection of Christ. This is the very glad tidings of God. For this Jesus died and rose again, that our sins might be forgiven—surely much more than this. All believers knew their sins were forgiven, for God had proclaimed this forgiveness to them, just as Jesus said: " Child, be of good courage, thy sins are forgiven thee." So the Holy Ghost by the apostles, ever proclaimed the same. This was the very commission of Christ. " That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:4747And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47).) Yes, first His death and resurrection; then repentance and remission of sins. And this they ever did. Peter thus preached at Pentecost, and again to the Gentiles: " To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." Thus did Paul preach at Antioch: " Be it known unto you therefore.... that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things," &c. (Acts 13:3838Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (Acts 13:38).) This was the known blessing of all believers. a Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Rom. 3:2424Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24).) Yes, they could all say: "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7).) They believed God who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; " Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification and they had peace with God.
So that the words of Jesus to the poor man sick of the palsy were the exact expression of this grace, the unmerited, free favor of forgiveness of sins. He who died for our sins has the undoubted title to say: “Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee." Do you believe the words of Jesus to your soul? No doubt this did, and still does, give great offense to scribes and Pharisees. Nothing has been more distinctly rejected than this free forgiveness of sins. The moment we reason in our hearts, we say, Are we worthy of such a favor? If we were worthy it would be no free,, gracious favor at all: would it now?
Jesus speaks again: " Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise., and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion."
He who died for our sins freely forgives, and then gives strength and power for holiness of walk. Never before had it been seen on this fashion; man's way is always the opposite of God's way. If we could walk first in the commandments of God, and then have forgiveness after, should we not merit that forgiveness? Oh, how our poor proud hearts long that the merit might be our own. If we believe in self, we find that self is powerless to walk.
If let down to the feet of Jesus, and all in which we have ever sought to rest, all down, down to His feet; then we not only hear His precious words of infinite love forgiving our sins, but in the power of His resurrection, and by the Holy Spirit, we have immediate strength to walk. Yes, then we can take up in our arms the very bed on which we rested and carry it away.
Compare this miracle with the preaching of the gospel in the Acts, and its effects in the epistles, and we find invariably, it is forgiveness of sins first; and then, rise up and walk. Thus has God revealed His love to us: " For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." " But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ; by grace ye are saved." (Rom. 5; Eph. 2)