Three Years in 30 Days: Jesus' Life and MissionSample

Jesus has the power to forgive sins

“And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” (Mark 2:5 ESV)

On one occasion when Jesus was preaching, people brought to Him a paralytic. Given the fact that Jesus had already healed many people, they probably expected Him to address this man’s physical problem as well. However, Jesus was first and foremost concerned with the patient’s spiritual well-being. He forgave his sins. Sure enough, later on in the story (in Mark 2:11 ESV) Jesus also told the man, “Rise, pick up your bed, and go home”—and he did. Jesus cured both his body and his soul.

Some religious experts present wondered, “Why does this man speak like that? … Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:7 ESV) This observation was absolutely right. However, they drew the false conclusion: “He is blaspheming!”

It is true that only God can forgive sins. Jesus forgiving sins is one more indication that He is more than human—He is God Himself! It took people quite a while to grasp this truth. Some didn’t even want to seriously consider it a possibility. Others hearing Jesus’ words and watching His miracles were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:12 ESV)

• Does Jesus’ power and authority to forgive sound as amazing and as important to you as His power to heal?
• Why, or why not?