Matthew 9:1-2 - And he got in the boat to cross over to his own country. And look, some people brought a paralytic before Jesus on a couch. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take courage, child, your sins are forgiven."
This does seem an odd thing to say to a disabled person. Especially in light of how quickly he has healed others before without any mention of their sins. So, did he see something in the paralytic that prompted him to say this rather than heal him, which was clearly the point of bringing him? Or, does he see the scribes and Pharisees out to get him and taunt them a bit? To set up a teaching moment perhaps.
Clearly he is being provocative. To what end? The theology of the time was that only God forgives sins and only after the ritual is complete. Is he opening up forgiveness to all - without ritual or is he declaring himself God? Or is it both?
Jesus offers us spiritual healing as well as physical and mental/emotional healing. God looks at the whole heart.
B
No comments:
Post a Comment