My Son, Your Sins Are Forgiven

What are you hoping that Jesus will do for you? Maybe you want to hear good teaching and practical wisdom from Jesus. Maybe you want to be a part of his miracles and good feelings that he brings. Or maybe you’re looking for self improvement; hoping that Jesus will make you a better version of yourself. There was a man in Mark 2 who came to Jesus hoping that Jesus would heal him physically. check out his story:

When he [Jesus] entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them. They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus tells this paralyzed stranger, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” But…wait a minute. Dude’s paralyzed. Why does Jesus say this? What good does this do? Well, we learn at least 3 things from what Jesus says here. First: Jesus calls him “son.” Now, here in this passage, Mark only uses the word paralytic to describe this guy. This book, Mark, is Peter telling the story of following Jesus. Peter lived in this town, the same town as the paralytic, so he probably didn’t even know this guy’s name. Because paralytics were outcasts of their society. People usually didn’t take the time to learn the names of weak, dependent, hurting people like this. They would have thought that he was like this because of some terrible sin he did or his parents did, so he’s not really worth getting to know. But Jesus shatters that horrific mentality by calling this stranger son. Son means that he has love and care and affection for this man. The world looks at this man and sees paralytic, paralytic, paralytic, paralytic, paralytic… Jesus sees a son.

Second: Jesus says that this stranger, who he’s never met, has sins. Son, your sins. Can you imagine meeting someone for the first time and saying, “I know your failures. I know your hidden wrongs, mistakes. Your sins.” Jesus is saying that anyone that stands before him has a sin issue. These 4 friends wanted Jesus to heal his arms and legs. Jesus saw something that was more broken than that. This man’s sin had broken everything about him.

But then thirdly Jesus says that his sins…are forgiven. Forgiven. He didn’t say that he’d pray for him, or that he hoped that God would forgive him. He said right here, right now, you are forgiven from all the mistakes, all the wrongs, all the rebellion and hidden darkness in your heart. I’m forgiving you for all of it. Think about the pause in the room at that point. The confused looks of the 4 friends.

Because I bet they were all setting their hopes and future joys on this guy being able to walk again. I wonder if the paralyzed guy thought: “If I could just walk again, then I’d never complain. I’d always be happy. If only I could walk again, everything would be alright.” I wonder if he was looking for contentment, joy, fulfillment and purpose apart from God. That’s what sin is, after all.  And if Jesus would have healed his paralysis but not healed his sin, he’d walk away, but soon he’d be just a miserable. Instead, Jesus is healing him of something that will bring him lasting contentment, joy, fulfillment and purpose.

Each of us is building our identity on something that isn’t Jesus. Each of us goes throughout our week thinking, “If I just had this thing, if I get my deepest wish, then I’ll be fulfilled.” And then if we don’t get it, we’re angry, unhappy, empty. But if we DO get it, we’ll actually feel even more empty because it won’t fulfill us the way we imagined it would.

What’s the one thing that you think, “If I just had that, then life would be complete”? And you’ve been scratching and clawing to get it?

Whatever you answer that question with, it’s probably something that you’ve turned into a savior. You’ve placed your hope in getting that thing. But Jesus wants to show you a deeper longing in your heart. Because guys, he wants to give you your deepest wish—he really does—but first he wants to show you that your deepest wish is actually for him. Whatever you’re hoping for in life, Jesus is better than that thing. He’s better than power, prestige, success. He’s better than money and sex. He’s better than good health and popularity. All of the things that we long for, Jesus brings fulfillment to them in ways that we could never imagine. Our deepest longings actually point to our longing for a relationship with him.

This is the best news that the people in that room could have heard. Maybe they wanted to hear something different from Jesus. Maybe they came to be wowed by his teaching and speaking ability. Maybe they came to be a part of the miracles and have something amazing to talk about with their friends. Maybe they came because they were hoping to better themselves. We’re looking for all those things too. We look for good teaching and speaking, so we listen to some Ted Talks here and there. We’re looking for miracles and good feelings so we watch Oprah and Ellen and Extreme Home Makeover. We’re looking to better ourselves so we read books about the Belly Fat Diet or go to Conferences in our occupational field that promise to give us hacks to get better at our work. We’re looking for all of that. And maybe that’s also what you’re looking for at church. You want good, inspiring teaching. You want some miracles and good feelings. You want to better yourself. But just like those people in that house with the hole in the roof, this is the best news that you could hear right now reading this article: your sins can be forgiven! Jesus is so much greater than a Ted Talk or Oprah or a self-improvement book; he has the power and authority and desire to forgive our sins: all of our wrongs, failures, rebellion against God, mistreatment of others. You and I can have forgiveness of every way that we’ve failed to love God and love others well.