A Protrait of the Son of Man (Matthew 9:1-8)

The Burden of Sin

Rosalind Goforth was a well-known missionary to China who, along with her husband Jonathan, enjoyed an illustrious career and ministry. But for many years, even having labored for the Lord in China, Rosalind often felt oppressed by a burden of sin. She felt guilty and dirty, nursing an inward sense of spiritual failure.

I can relate to Rosalind Goforth. Sin is a burden to my soul. It was a burden before I was saved, and its still a burden I share today.

Sin weighs heavily on me, constantly reminding me of how much I fall short of God's glory. It burdens the soul with its ultimate consequences of physical and spiritual death. Sin casts a dark shadow, obscuring the light and warmth of the Son. It serves as a dross, compounding impurities upon impurities. Sin is darkness that shrouds God’s love and grace, limiting their visibility. It's akin to a corpse—the “body of death” (Rom. 7:24)—void of life. Sin acts as a poison that leaves one feeling hopeless for an antidote. It traps individuals in chains that cannot be broken, confining them in an unyielding prison. Sin is like a stained, obscured record that continually reminds me of my disloyalty to God. It signifies eternal death, devoid of hope for everlasting life. Ultimately, sin is an unbearable burden that provides no respite for the sinner, well that is until I turn my eye to Jesus.

Jesus provides relief for the burdened sinner. When Jesus left heaven, took on flesh, lived an obedient life to the Father, he brought the hope of the kingdom of God. He brought the relief for the burden of sin. He brought relief for the sinner through forgiveness. Forgiveness is the only cure that rolls all the burdens of sin away.

This morning’s story features Jesus meeting a paralytic man. His friends, filled with faith and hope, go to great lengths to bring him to Jesus. When they can’t enter through the door, they climb to the roof and lower their friend down. Moved by their unwavering belief, Jesus performs an extraordinary act: he provides relief for the broken man by first forgiving his sins and then healing his body. The people are astounded. The Scribes are appalled. The man simply walks home free from his burden.

Every Friday morning, at Litchfield Christian School, our students study portraits of art. It is one of our favorite times of the week. I am finding that looking at pieces of art provokes feelings inside of me. I am moved by certain pieces. Edvard Munch painted a piece called the Sick Child. It is a scene of his aunt weeping at the bedside of his sick sister who is dying of tuberculosis. It provokes sadness and sympathy. Claude Monet painted a portrait called “The Woman with a Parasol.” It is a scene of his wife and son walking in a field on a beautiful sunny day. The painting provokes feelings of renewal and happier times. Matthew paints a portrait of the Jesus in this encounter. He invites us to linger and gaze upon what Matthew beautifully shows us about our Lord:

Jesus is the Son of Man who glorifies the Father by forgiving sins, relieving the burden of the sinner.

As we linger, let’s pay attention to the strokes of the artist. The first stroke we are drawn to is who Jesus refers to himself as; the Son of Man.

Jesus is the “Son of Man’

While the demons identify Jesus as the Son of God in our previous text, Jesus identifies himself as the Son of Man. While "Son of God” emphasizes Jesus’ deity, “Son of Man" highlights His unique tie to humanity.

The term "Son of Man" carries various significant meanings within biblical contexts. In the Old Testament, it often serves as a poetic synonym for "man" or "human being," stressing mortality and human frailty. Yet, in the book of Daniel, it assumes an exalted meaning, referring to a special man who is granted authority by God. The Son of Man is the one given authority and dominion over the earth (Dan 7:13-14). Jews understood the title as a reference to the Messiah.

This title appears eighty times in the New Testament, with our Lord using it thirty times. In the Gospels, Jesus commonly refers to Himself with this title, blending the identity of his humanity and crucifixion on the one hand, with one whom God will ultimately vindicate through resurrection on the other hand.

Using the title, “Son of Man,” the incarnate Jesus connects Himself to Old Testament prophecies of a Messiah whose suffering, death, and glorious resurrection will be the means God forgives sinners. Jesus is the Son of Man who can relieve the sinners burden by forging his sins.

Jesus, the man standing before the scribes, was not merely a human teacher or Rabbi being empowered by God to do miracles. Jesus is God incarnate. Furthermore, as the Son of Man who is fully God, Jesus has the power to authority to do what only God can do, forgive sins. He proves this authority by healing the broken man. He says to the unbelieving scribes,

Matthew 9:6 ESV

6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

Matthew 9:7 ESV

7 And he rose and went home.

The people who see this happen respond in a similar way that the disciple resounded.

Matthew 9:8 ESV

8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

They praised God and honored the Father when they witnessed Jesus forgiving the man and healing his broken body. They realized that God was among them. For a moment, they had eyes to see Jesus for who he really is;

Jesus is the Son of Man who glorifies the Father by forgiving sins, relieving the burden of the sinner.

When I look at the portrait of Jesus, the Son of Man, that Matthew paints for us in our text, what do I see? I see three truthful realities that inspire me to turn to Jesus for relief from my burden.

Jesus is the Son of Man who perceives my deeper need by prioritizing forgiveness of my sins. (Matthew 9:2-3)

Matthew 9:2–3 ESV

2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”

Upon seeing the man and his friends, Jesus recognizes their faith and feels moved to act for them. While everyone might suspect him to perform a miraculous healing, Jesus instead addresses the man’s deeper burden—the restoration of his relationship with the holy Father.‌ The sinners deepest burden is the consequence of sin.

Sin is a burden because it is the one thing that eternally separates you from God. God is holy and sinless. Hannah prayed,

1 Samuel 2:2 ESV

2 “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

The prophet Habakkuk says of God,

Habakkuk 1:13 (CSB)

13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing….

Yahweh tells his people,

Leviticus 11:44 HCSB

44 For I am Yahweh your God, so you must consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any swarming creature that crawls on the ground.

Isaiah the prophet reveals the burden of our sin when he says,

Isaiah 59:2 ESV

2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

In Leviticus, God uses a skin disease to teach how our sin is a disease of the soul that keeps us from the presence of God. God’s law deemed those with skin diseases unclean, keeping them from entering the tabernacle or temple. Being unclean led to their separation from worship (Allan Mosley). What the skin disease did for an Israelite is what sin does to every human being. Sin makes you unclean and unable to be in the presence of God, so much so that God says the wages of your sin is death (Rom 6:23), which eternal separation from God under his wrath.

Eternal condemnation is the sinners greatest burden. Jesus says as much when he says in the Sermon on the Mount,

Matthew 5:29–30 ESV

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

Your greater burden is not a broken body, but an unclean sin ridden soul. Which is why the church must preach the entire gospel. It is not enough to simply build homes for the homeless, or feed the hungry if there is no gospel. The home will do the homeless man no eternal good if his eternal resting place is hell. The food you feed the hungry person will last a few hours, but he will starve in eternity. The sinners needs and eternal refuge. He needs the Bread of Life.

Jesus looks beyond the man’s physical brokenness and perceives that his more profound struggle lies in the need for forgiveness; therefore, he prioritizes extending forgiveness to the man above all else.

Linger here, friends. Linger here and gaze upon the beauty of Jesus seeing your deeper need. I know you body hurts. I know walking in this Genesis three world hurts at times. I know the phone calls from the doctors can be intimidating and scary. Jesus sees that and he cares. He sees, however, you deeper need, friend. He sees you need for forgiveness.

There are two ways to respond to. The religious Scribes present accused Jesus of blasphemy. Blasphemy is slander against God. They claimed that only God can forgive sins, which is indeed true. However, their hardened hearts prevented them from seeing Jesus as the Son of Man and recognizing him as the Messiah. And because they could not see Jesus prioritizing their need for forgiveness and the one who could offer it, in reality, they were the ones committing blasphemy against God. If you see Jesus through the Scribe’s eyes as merely a man or another Jewish Rabbi with outrageous claims, then you will reject him. Or, you could linger a little longer and see where your forgiveness is found.

Alas, and did my savior bleed and did my sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred Head for such a worm as I?

At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light And the burden of my heart rolled away, rolled away It was there by faith, I received my sight And now I am happy all the day

Jesus is the Son of Man who has the authority to forgive sins. (Matthew 9:4-7)

How do we know Jesus has the authority to forgive. Jesus proves it by healing the broken man.

Matthew 9:4–6 ESV

4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

Jesus was able to perceive the unbelief of the Scribes. It could’ve been his divinity, or it could’ve been by their body language and murmuring; maybe it was a combination of both. Jesus asks a question in verse 5,

Matthew 9:5 ESV

5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

On the surface, it’s easier to say your sins are forgiven. I can say you sins are forgiven, but who really knows if they are forgiven or not. If I tell a paralyzed man ti get up and walk, you will know if my words have power. Either I am the real deal and the man walks, or I am a fake, and he remains paralyzed.

In this case, however, Jesus validates his message bey healing the man. You get that by the purpose clause in verse 6,

Matthew 9:6 ESV

6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

The reason he healed the man in front of the scribes was to prove to them that His is the Messiah, the Son of God, who has come to bring the kingdom of God into the world. He is the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. If Jesus is truly able to forgive sins, the man will get up an walk. If Jesus is a false Christ, then the man will remain on his mat. In verse 7, Matthew records,

Matthew 9:7 ESV

7 And he rose and went home.

The religious elite should’ve recognized his authority when he healed the man. The prophet Isaiah says when the Messiah comes, “Your dead shall live,” “your blind will see and your deaf will hear,” Isaiah 26:19; Isaiah 29:18; and the Messiah will bring the good news to the poor (Isaiah 61:1; (Luke 4:18–19). In Matthew 9:1-9, Jesus is fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 29 by healing the lame man. He is proving he is the Messiah, and being the Messiah he has the authority to heal the broken, and prove his authority to forgive sins.

The moment the lame man walked out of the house, the Scribes should’ve glorified the Father for sending the His Son to heal the broken and forgive sinners. The third reality of truth is Jesus is the Son of Man who glorifies the Father by forgiving sins and healing the broken.

Jesus is the Son of Man who glorifies the Father by forgiving sins and healing the broken. (Matthew 9:8)

Matthew 9:8 ESV

8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

The Father is made much of by the people who witness Jesus forgive sins and heal the lame. The people see Jesus, at least at some level, as the Messiah. Now their notion of the Messiah is misguided at this point, but nevertheless, they realize God has sent the one they’ve been hoping to come since the fall of man. In their awe, there is a sense of hope in the air. If this man can heal a paralyzed man, could he be the one who truly reconciles us to God?

Yesterday, at the Men’s breakfast, Michael and I sat next to an older gentleman who is a new believer. For 63 years of his life he denied God and refused to submit to him. In his unbelief, he saw God as a dictator, and he said he refused to worship a dictator.

But when he began to seriously read the Bible, God opened his eyes to Jesus. And like a painted portrait can provoke feelings inside the depths of your heart, this man’s hardness of heart melted at the sight of Jesus seeing his greater burden, his need for the forgiveness of his sins. He said, “Forgiveness changed everything. I was a sinner, and when I saw God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ, I knew that he would forgive anything. It was powerful. I knew I had to give my life to Jesus.”

The forgiveness of God in Jesus Christ changes everything! To be a spectator in that house and to see the man lowered down, and to hear Jesus say, “Son your sins are forgiven.” And then to prove they are forgiven, Jesus tells the man, “Get up and walk out of here.” Thats how forgiven you are, my son. Just as your legs and body are fully restored, so you are completely forgiven and restored to the Father. Get up and go home, my son.

Maybe you are sitting here this morning like Rosalind Goforth, carrying the burden of your sin. Maybe like her, you needed to see the portrait of a merciful forgiving Messiah who prioritized your greatest burden, the forgiveness of you sins. Like her, you needed to see his authority to forgive sins with his power to heal the lame man. Like her, maybe you needed to see just how thoroughly God deals with your sin when he forgives you in Jesus Christ. Friend, when God forgives you,

God lays your sin on his Son—Jesus Christ. Isaiah 53:6

God completley takes away your sin. John 1:29

God removes your sin—as far as East is from West. Psalm 123

When sought for, God ensures your sin is never found. Jeremiah 50:20

God forever forgives your sin. Ephesians 1:7

God cleanses ALL your sin away by the Blood of His own Son. 1 John 1:7

God cleanses your sin as white as snow, as white wool. Isaiah 1:18; Psalm 51:7

God abundantly pardons your sins. Isaiah 55:7

God tramples your sins under foot. Micah 7:19 (RV)

God remembers your sin no more. Hebrews 10:17

God casts your sin behind his back. Isaiah 38:17

God casts your sin into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19

God will not count our sins against you. Romans 4:8

God covers your sins entirely. Romans 4:7

God blots your sins out completely. Isaiah 43:25

God blots your sin out as a thick cloud. Isaiah 44:22

God blots out every sin against you, nailing it to the Cross. Colossians 2:14

If you are here today wondering, “How can I know that kind of forgiveness? How can I receive His forgiveness? The good news is you must Repent and believe! Repent and believe in the Son of Man who glorifies the father by forgiving sins and healing the broken. Belief is faith

Faith is the right response to Jesus’ offer of forgiveness. Faith is what brought the paralytic to Jesus, and faith is what compelled Jesus to forgive the paralytic.

The greatest proof that Jesus prioritizes your need for forgiveness is his death on the cross. The greatest proof of Jesus’ authority to completley heal your body is his resurrection from the dead. The greatest proof of Jesus’ authority to forgive your sins entirely is he lived a perfect life so he could die as your perfect substitute, for the atonement and forgiveness of your sins. On the cross, Jesus takes your sin and in turn gives you his righteousness. In doing so, he makes you clean and holy, so you can boldly stand in the presence of your Holy Father.

God accepted his sacrifice by raising him from the dead. And by the same power he raised Christ from the dead, God promises to raise you from the dead. Moreover, he promises to give you a glorified body, fit for heaven, that will never suffer disease or death again. This kind of forgiveness is available to all who will come to him by faith.

For those who are here burdened by their sin, linger as long as you can gazing upon the beautiful Portrait of Jesus, the Son of Man, whom Matthew painted for us this morning. While you linger at such forgiveness and power, plead with God to open your eyes to see Jesus as the Son of Man who relives the burden of sinners with His forgiveness and healing.