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- Oct 26, 2007
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So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!" Matthew 9:6 NLT
Jesus shook up the spiritual sensibilities of some Jewish religious teachers when He said to a paralyzed man brought to Him for dealing, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2). That’s blasphemy! They thought. Does He think He’s God?
Had Jesus not been who He truly was—the Son of God sent to earth to bring forgiveness of sins to humankind—these religious teachers would have been absolutely correct in labeling Him a blasphemer. But He was who He said He was, so He demonstrated His power and authority for all to see when He said to the paralyzed man, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
As God in the flesh, Jesus had authority to do what God alone can do, namely forgiven sin. So be encouraged! Your sins are forgiven!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that You still have the power and authority to forgive sin—my sin. I first came to You as a spiritual cripple, a man completely unable to so much as approach You. But because of Your great love for me, You reached down and healed me and forgave my sins. Your love is amazing!
Jesus shook up the spiritual sensibilities of some Jewish religious teachers when He said to a paralyzed man brought to Him for dealing, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2). That’s blasphemy! They thought. Does He think He’s God?
Had Jesus not been who He truly was—the Son of God sent to earth to bring forgiveness of sins to humankind—these religious teachers would have been absolutely correct in labeling Him a blasphemer. But He was who He said He was, so He demonstrated His power and authority for all to see when He said to the paralyzed man, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
As God in the flesh, Jesus had authority to do what God alone can do, namely forgiven sin. So be encouraged! Your sins are forgiven!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that You still have the power and authority to forgive sin—my sin. I first came to You as a spiritual cripple, a man completely unable to so much as approach You. But because of Your great love for me, You reached down and healed me and forgave my sins. Your love is amazing!
