Faith and Forgiveness

Mark 2:1-12

One of the most powerful parts of our worship at UALC is when the pastor says this to the congregation, after we pray the prayer of confession together:   "As a called and ordained minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, today all your sins have been forgiven.  In the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit." 

I am reminded of that as I read this passage.  The man who was paralyzed wanted to hear Jesus speak.  But so many people had crowded into the courtyard that there was no room for him.  So his enterprising friends picked him up, as he was lying on his pallet, and carried him to the roof, where they made an opening n the roof.  They lowered their friend through that opening so he could see - and hear -Jesus.

Jesus' reaction is profound:  "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."  (v. 5).

Jesus recognized their faith, and he forgave the paralytic.   He didn't focus on the friends' good works and he didn't praise their resourcefulness, although both of these things - their good works and their determination to help their friend - were important results of their faith.  They had faith that Jesus could heal their friend.  They found a way for him to meet Jesus. 

Now the teachers of the law were angry that Jesus healed the man.  They focused on the fact that God alone can forgive sins.  They of course totally missed the point of the friends' faith in He who could forgive sins.  They missed the blessing of faith in Jesus.

Too often, my reaction is like the teachers of the law.  I want to find reasons to hold onto my guilt and my sin, and I want to earn my salvation. 

Lord, help me to be more like the paralytic's friends, who had faith that Jesus would heal their friend.  Their faith led to forgiveness - lasting forgiveness that is only found in Jesus.