THERE was a time when the Son of God was here on earth, when there was no need of those abodes of suffering such as infirmaries, hospitals, and asylums. He was “JEHOVAH, THE LORD THAT HEALETH THEE.” The blind received their sight, the lame walked, the lepers were cleansed, the deaf were made to hear, the dead were raised to life. They brought to Him from all the country round the diseased and afflicted and the suffering. He healed them all. There went a virtue out of Him; as many as touched Him were made perfectly whole.
The Lord was at Capernaum: the news was noised abroad, and many gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them; and He preached the word unto them. They brought to Him a poor incurable sufferer, sick of the palsy, borne of four. It was the sick one’s extremity, but it was also faith’s opportunity, and it would not be put off. If those who brought him could not get in at the door, they would through the roof, and they did, and let down the bed on which the sick of the palsy lay before Jesus while He was preaching.
But this poor afflicted one had a worse disease than palsy, and it was to save from this disease that the blessed Saviour came, though He cured the palsy too. So we read, “When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto him, ‘Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.’” Oh, blessed words to a sin-sick soul!
“The worst of all diseases
Is light compared with sin;
On every part it seizes,
But rages most within:
‘Tis palsy, dropsy, fever,
And madness—all combined,
And none but a believer
A full relief can find.”
But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and they reasoned thus in their hearts: “Why doth this Man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?” But Jesus is God—God the Son—the Son of God—God manifest in flesh—God over all, blessed forever—one with the Father in deity and divine glory. In Him those whose eyes were open beheld “the glory as of an only begotten with a Father.”
Oh, we love to bear testimony and confess this! Every saved one, every believer rejoices to do so. All the divine glory of His person gives its value to His God-glorifying, sin-atoning, sin-forgiving work. How that glory rays forth here! He knew the unbelieving reasoning they had in their hearts; they had no need to utter it He read their hearts, He knew their thoughts. Who but God could do this? Man only knows what is uttered or spoken; God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart.
When Jesus perceived in His spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, He said unto them, “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, take up thy bed, and walk?” Ah, dear reader, in this question all the blessed truth of forgiveness is wrapped up. In one sense there was no difference, one was as easy as the other. He only, who had divine power to effect the one, had divine right to effect the other. But in another sense (oh! ponder this) it was far harder, infinitely so, for the blessed Saviour to say, “Thy sins be forgiven thee,” than to say, “Arise, take up thy bed, and walk.” The healing could be effected by His word only; but if the forgiveness of a sinner’s sins was to be brought about, that blessed Saviour must take the guilty’s place. He must be made sin, be forsaken of God, suffer the awful judgment and wrath of God against sin, and thus make purgation of sins by His atoning death and blood shedding. This He has done, and God has raised Him from the dead. On the ground of having this before Him, He could say to the sick of the palsy, “Thy sins be forgiven thee.”
Blessed, precious Saviour, it was that sinners, might have full, free pardon brought to them that Thou didst come from heaven. “Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” “God sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
Dear reader, how about your sins? Have you been born again? Have you ever been awakened to the fact that you have this terrible, this worst of all diseases? Oh, that the reading of these plain, simple words might awaken you! If unforgiven, you are far from God, and where He is you cannot come. Not only can you never be with Him, but you will be in eternal misery, in outer darkness, in the lake of fire. “There shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Oh, believe God’s word and come to Jesus the Saviour now! He will in no wise cast out.
W. F.