Extraordinary Things (3)

Introduction

Luke has been showing us in his gospel that, while Jesus was a man, he was no ordinary man. He is in fact the Son of God, which really means that he was the Son of Man.

[CIT] In this passage Jesus’ claim to be God centered on his ability to forgive sins—an ability he proved by healing a paralytic of his paralysis.

[PROP] As we read this passage, we should be reminded that we once were paralyzed by sin, and our only hope was to be healed (i.e., forgiven) by Jesus, the Son of God—or as he referred to himself most of the time, the Son of Man.

We began this morning with two of the most extraordinary things in this passage—the forgiving of the paralytic’s sins by Jesus and the perceiving of the Pharisees’ thoughts by Jesus.

[TS] Tonight we want to see two final most extraordinary things...

Major Ideas

Extraordinary Thing #1: The Healing of Paralysis (vv. 24-25)

​ ESVBut that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.

[Exp] The proud and jealous hearts of the Pharisees and teachers of the law would not accept this Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ. They could not and would not believe that he was the long-awaited Anointed One who would be sent by God to deliver his people.

The closest they w

Even so, Jesus made the reality of who he was as undeniable as possible in this moment.

The paralytic came to Jesus to be healed of his paralysis, but Jesus didn’t start with his paralysis—he started with his soul. He said to him, “…your sins are forgiven.”

Now, Jesus did this because this was the paralytic’s greatest need, but also because he wanted to set up a situation in which his identity and his authority would be undeniable to anyone not hardened by sin.

The scribes and Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy; because he claimed to forgive the sins of the paralytic they accused him of taking for himself a prerogative that belongs to God alone.

But that is just what Jesus wanted them to do. He wanted them to ask, “Who can for give sins but God alone?”

He wanted them to ask that question because he was about to prove to them that he was God. He said in v. 24...

He wanted them to ask, “Who can for give sins but God alone?”

Luke 5:24 ESV

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

Jesus made a connection between forgiving sins and healing this paralytic.

The only one capable of healing paralysis “immediately” as v. 25 says is God.

No surgery. No recovery. No rehab. No therapy. No wheelchair, walker, or crutches.

Just immediate restoration of his body to its full abilities.

Again, the only one capable of healing paralysis “immediately” is God.

Jesus healed this man immediately, therefore he must be God.

Because he is God, he authority to forgive sins.

If Jesus has authority to forgive sins, then he has authority to forgive my sins.

This is the inescapable logic that Jesus hopes to ensnare the Pharisees and scribes with.

It’s the logic that he hopes will ensnare those who would’ve been influenced by the scribes and Pharisees.

It’s the logic that Jesus hopes will ensnare us as we read this passage.

It’s the logic that surely caught the man who was formerly paralyzed.

[Illus] Imagine that as the formerly paralyzed man was on the way home some of these Pharisees and teachers of the law come running to catch up with him. With the spring that was in his step, they would have surely had to run.

But imagine as they catch up with him, they ask, “Did Jesus put you up to this?”

But the formerly paralyzed man, those men who brought him to Jesus, and others all convince them that this was no trick.

Besides, the overjoyed look on the man’s face as he bounced along on legs that actually worked was proof enough that he had really been healed.

But then the scribes and Pharisees ask him, “But you know that your sins are not really forgiven, right?”

How do you think the formerly paralyzed man would have responded if he had been asked such a question by these religious leaders?

I think he would have said, “Do you see this mat? I was carried to Jesus on this mat and now I’m carrying it home! So, yes, I believe my sins are forgiven!”

“Do you see this body? Before it met Jesus, it couldn’t move, but now it can’t quit dancing! So, yes, I believe my sins are forgiven!”

“Feel my chest, the beating of my heart. Before Jesus said my sins were forgiven, it was as dead and lifeless as my paralyzed body, but now it courses with joy and beats for the glory of God! So, yes, I believe my sins are forgiven!”

The proof of forgiveness was in the healing of paralysis.

The healing of his paralysis also served as proof of Jesus’ identity.

You’ll notice that Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man in v. 24. This was Jesus’ favorite designation for himself and not because he couldn’t get over being human.

Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man because of , which says...

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And 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 one that shall not be destroyed.

Daniel 7:13-14

By referring to himself as the Son of Man Jesus was claiming divinity and dominion; he was claiming to be God and to have all authority—including the authority to forgive sins.

[Illus] The famous artist, Paul Gustave Dore, lived in the 1800’s. Once while traveling across Europe he lost his passport and hoped to be allowed to pass through at a border crossing because of his fame. He was hoping that the guards would recognize him and wouldn’t demand that he have a passport.

The guard at the border crossing, however, said that many people try to pass through the borders by claiming to be famous people, but the guard offered to give Dore a test.

He handed him a pencil and a sheet of paper and told him to sketch some people who stood nearby.

Dore did it so quickly and skillfully that the guard knew at once that he was indeed who he claimed to be.

He work confirmed his word!

Likewise, Jesus’ work in healing the paralytic’s paralysis confirmed his word of forgiveness.

It should make it undeniable.

[App] How can we deny the reality of Jesus’ identity; the reality of the forgiveness that he offers, when they are confirmed by his work?

We should look at his work in his death and resurrection and conclude that Jesus is God and has authority to forgive sins.

His work confirms his word.

We should look at his work in the lives of his Apostles and confirm that Jesus is God and has authority to forgive sins. How else could their transformation be explained, and why else would they all give their lives to spread his message?

His work confirms his word.

We should (and I hope we can) look at Jesus’ work in our own lives and know that Jesus is God and know that he has forgiven our sins.

The spiritual transformation that we undergo when we are forgiven by the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, is just as dramatic as the physical transformation the paralytic underwent when he was healed of his paralysis.

When we think of how Jesus has saved us and sanctified us, we ought to think of it as confirmation that Jesus is God and has authority to forgives sins!

What else could explain our dramatic transformation?

His work confirms his word.

[TS] Extraordinary Thing #1: The Healing of Paralysis.

Extraordinary Thing #2: The Glory of God (v. 26)

​ ESVAnd amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

[Exp] Verse 25 told us that the former paralytic went home glorifying God. Now v. 26 tells us that onlookers were amazed, filled with awe, and also glorified God.

To glorify God is to tell God and others the great things God has done.

The now healed and forgiven man surely had no problem doing that as walked home mat in hand.

The other people were likewise astounded at the power, authority, and mercy of Jesus and found it easy to glorify God.

[App] If we have been forgiven by Jesus, we should no less amazed, no less filled with awe, and spend no less time praising God!

If we’ve been forgiven, there ought to always be a song of praise in our hearts.

[Illus] Johan Sebastian Bach said, “All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul’s refreshment; where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a devilish hub-bub.”

He headed his compositions with the initials “J.J.” which stood for Jesus Juva which meant “Jesus help me.”

He ended every composition with the initials “S.D.G.” which stood for Soli Dei gratia, which meant “To God alone the praise.”

[App] Because we have experienced the forgiveness of our sins in Jesus Christ, the words “To God alone the praise” should be inscribed on our hearts.

And every day we live, we should wake up with the words “Jesus help me” inscribed our hearts as well.

“Jesus help me to remember to joy of my salvation!”

“Jesus help me to be continually amazed at being forgiven!”

“Jesus help me to be always in awe of your mercy toward me!”

“Jesus help me to always sing the song of God’s glory in light of your forgiveness and grace!”

[TS] {see below}

[TS]

Conclusion

[Illus] One mother said that her and her husband were always talking to their young son about all that God has made.

They asked questions like, “Who made the sun?” or “Who made the rain?”

Of course the answer was always, “God did!”

One night, mom walked into the living room where all her son’s toys were scattered. She asked, “Who made this mess?”

Her well-discipled son answered, “God did!”

[App] As sinners, we’d love to blame someone for the mess we’ve made.

Like the little boy with his toys strown about or Adam in the Garden of Eden, we’d even like to blame God.

The fault, however, is ours.

It our sin that brought the curse of sin and death into the world.

It is our sin that often makes a mess of our lives.

It is our sin that makes us enemies with God.

Thus, it our sins that must be forgiven.

[PROP] Our only hope was to be forgiven by Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man.

Only he has the authority to do so.

{prayer}