Just Words or Words with Power?

And when he saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" When Jesus perceived their thoughts he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? 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." And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.

Luke 5:20-25

When I was a (much) younger Christian, the story of Jesus healing the lame man made no sense to me. At all. When Jesus asked which was easier, the forgiveness of sin or giving the ability to walk, my reaction was "Making someone walk is much harder. The other part is just words."

Clearly I hadn't done much maturing (or sinning) yet.

In our day, it is a bit easier to see how the healing of the lame man was secondary to the forgiveness of his sins. We live in a day where doctors can fix many physical problems through several means - medicine, prosthesis, implants, etc. Medical science has given hearing to the deaf, a voice to the mute, and children to the barren. 

There is still no cure for sin other than the forgiveness found in believing on Jesus Christ. The words of Jesus to forgive sins are not just words. They carry the power of God.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

Yesterday's Reading: Luke 1-9:50