22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and
said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is
easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?
The
four men brought their friend to Jesus to be heal. After making their way
through the crowd, getting him up on the roof, breaking a hole in it and then
lowering him down to Jesus something very interesting took place. Jesus could
have simply healed the man and sent him home, but instead, He used the
opportunity to teach a lesson about sin and forgiveness.
Jesus
looked at the paralyzed man, saw his faith, saw the faith of his friends, and
said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you" (5:20). The people present
were astounded and the Pharisees pricked up their ears. The man himself was
evidently greatly conscious of sin in his life, so the Lord's words were as a
balm to his soul. The critical Pharisees in the guest room, however, could
hardly believe that this young preacher from Nazareth had spoken blasphemy!
Waiting for more, they held their tongues, but their thoughts were transparent
enough, especially to Jesus.
They
no doubt were thinking, “What a copout! Here these fellows had brought this
paralytic for healing, and He simply changed the subject. Any preacher could
say, "Your sins are forgiven"—if he didn't mind being charged with
the capital offence of blasphemy. Well, He might have been able to fool these
ignorant Galileans with such a slick trick, but He doesn't fool us.
But,
"Jesus perceived [read] their thoughts" (5:22). They were
thinking, "Who is this which speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins,
but God alone?" (5:21). The Lord continued, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say,
'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?” (5:23).
Naturally,
they thought it much easier to pretend to forgive a man's sins than to heal his
obvious paralysis. Jesus then turned to the man even as He spoke to His
critics: But that you may know that the Son
of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the man who was
paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your
house." (5:24).
In
Luke 5:24, we have the first recorded use of the title Son of man in Luke's
Gospel, where it is found twenty-three times. Our Lord's listeners were
familiar with this title. It was used of the Prophet Ezekiel over eighty times,
and Daniel applied it to the Messiah (Dan. 7:13, 18). "Son of man"
was our Lord's favorite name for Himself; this title is found at least
eighty-two times in the Gospel record. Occasionally He used the title "Son
of God" (Matt. 27:43; Luke 22:70; John 5:25; 9:35; 10:36; 11:4), but
"Son of man" was used more. Certainly the Jewish people caught the
messianic character of this title, but it also identified Him with the people
He came to save (Luke 19:10). Like Ezekiel, the Old Testament "son of
man," Jesus "sat where they sat" (Ezek. 3:15).
The
healing was immediate, and the man rose to his feet, took up his bedroll, and
headed for home, glorifying God. But even more than receiving healing, the man
experienced forgiveness and the start of a whole new life. Our Lord's miracles
not only demonstrated His deity and His compassion for needy people, but they
also revealed important spiritual lessons about salvation. They were
"object lessons" to teach spiritually blind people what God could do
for them if only they would believe in His Son.
With
His Word Jesus spoke the world into existence (John 1:1-4). To heal a paralyzed
man was easy but to forgive a man for his sins, the work of salvation, is
beyond our human comprehension! God becomes flesh, suffers on a cross and sheds
His blood to purchase our redemption! Then conquers death and hell with His
resurrection!
Which
do you think is easier?
God
bless!
