Who’s in Charge?

No matter how many new translations of the Bible come out, the people still sin the same way.

—Anonymous

With everything we think we need, truly we need forgiveness from sins, we need to be reminded that we come to jesus for that, first and above all. Because to believe that He can heal, we must first believe that He can. The wages of sin is death and all have sinned. So the greatest need of these men who are coming to Jesus in faith, is the knowledge that their sins (without sacrifices mind you) are forgiven. That they have placed their faith in the right “One”.

Matthew 9:1–8 “ So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” 3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!” 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 you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house. 8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.”

Matthew 9:1 “ So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.”

(01/02 Pic) After this amazing encounter with nature that tried to destroy, then the supernatural, this man, this king, our Lord makes it back to Capernaum from the Gaderenes .

Mark 1 says capernaum (03 boss)

apparently the boat ride was without incident, but bet some of the guys were still gripping the sides of that boat pretty hard lol.

Matthew 9:2 “ Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.””

Now in Mark and Luke we are told slightly more details. Lets read Luke 5:17–20 “ Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. 20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.””

Now back on Matthew 9:2 but listen, Jesus sees the faith of these men, and the sick one and says, your sins are forgiven you. Why? Well like we said at the beginning, its their greatest need of healing. And Jesus seeing them truly trust that He can, gives them their greatest need, first. James 2:18 “ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

Does this mean his illness was because of sin or family sin, generational curse, etc? NO, like in John 9:2 “ And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”” it was and is common. Now what do we hear. these men (all of them have what?) show their FAITH

And Jesus shows first what anyone can say. Gods response to faith is Salvation. And if God incarnate says you’re forgiven because of that faith, then guess what? Because its Romans 4:16 “ Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” Ephesians 2:8–9 “ For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast.” So this is not a surprise to us, but we benefit from hindsight.

certainly a thing to be cheerful about. When the God of the universe personally says to you, you’re forgiven, I mean what Kind of Good news is that? We talk about this forgiveness more in a moment.

Matthew 9:3 “ And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!””

Luke 5:21 “ And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?””

Now, the NET translates this: “said to themselves” they might possibly be muttering under their breath to each other but this text indicates they were reasoning, thinking about it in their own mind.

We are told in Psalm 32:5 “ I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah” and Isaiah 43:25 “ “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.”

He is not ignorant of my sin or struggles but sees the covering given by our beloved Christ.

Matthew 9:4–7 “ 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 you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.”

So stinking epic. Luke 5:22 “ But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?”

now many folks wear their thoughts on their face.

Jesus says their doubts about His word are evil. Its the beginnings of the unforgivable sin. (Matthew 12:31)

power on earth - what is this? This is a throw to his pre-existence. We did not exist before and we populated the earth. Thats not biblical. But Jesus said John 8:58 “ Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”” as we discussed before the son always has been. Philippians 2:6 “ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,”

In our minds we see this healing with music, power, but what kind of man can look at someone completely paralyzed and say get up and they do!? How many brains would break - how many scribes would freak? Its why Nicodemus a pharisee would say we know you’re from God (John 3:2)

Matthew 9:8 “ Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.”

As they marveled at his command of Nature, now Jesus shows not just the power to heal, but to forgive sins as God.

Jesus vindicated the claim of being able to forgive by instantly restoring a man to full health. Easy to say I could forgive, but in this miracle, Jesus shows it. This power again, exousian, is not just power but authority.

Jesus responded to their faith. They admit their powerlessness, their trust in Jesus by doing everything to get to Him. Because Jesus calls them to. Not just to be healed but to repentance. look at v13 of this chapter. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

can you admit you’re a sinner? I was and am. Paul would say, 1 Timothy 1:15 “ This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” Paul doest saw was, but am. We have to know that this world and flesh trips and battles with this flesh and in this, Jesus showed us his desire to save us.

In Closing: Jesus, by saying he has real power/authority on earth again reminds them and us of Daniel 7:13–14 “ “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”

Jesus tells you and i here with one simple act, that he can forgive who ever he wants. And he secured this forgiveness utterly on the cross. And gives us eternal life after he rises and gives us His Holy Spirit. Just amazing.

And marvelous. Everything, the healing, the saving, the delivering of Gentiles to the kingdom, only God. Realize this, when our God incarnated, even those that saw this exact event, rejected Him. John 1:9–13 “ That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. (but there is always a but) 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Our faith can lead us to where we have that same right.