I'm one of those guys that when I walk into a car shop, I have to pretend like I know more than I actually do. If I don't, and the mechanic doesn't have much integrity, I'm going to walk out of there paying far more than I should have. Anyone else out there like that? That's actually why I decided to grow a beard, so people would think I'm manlier and more knowledgeable about manly type stuff.
But really isn't it true? If you want the best treatment in life, a lot of the times you need to know a guy? Want a fair price at the car dealer? You better know a guy. Want a reservation at the best restaurant on a Valentine's night? You better know a guy. Want the hottest tickets to the best game or concert at a reasonable price? You better know a guy.
As it turns out, I do know a guy when it comes to cars. Just the other night, I rode around in my car with my friend AJ from my community group and he set me at ease about a number of issues I thought I was having with my car. When you know the right guy, you can be at peace about things that would otherwise worry you.
So there's this moment in Matthew Chapter 9 where a group of guys have an ailing buddy. Word was spreading that Jesus of Nazareth was capable of healing many sicknesses and infirmities. The demon oppressed were being set free from bondage; the paralyzed were being made well. The sick were being made well.
You're not always likely to get excellent treatment at a fair cost unless if you know a guy. But as it turns out, the right guy is it town. So this group of men, bring their friend, who happens to be a paralytic, to Jesus... in Capernaum. And what's even better... Jesus was doing many of these things in Capernaum, right where they were from.
So they come to Jesus... But before we take any steps further, there's something important worth mentioning... a lot of the time we head off looking for something we think we need... when there's actually a greater need lying below the surface. As we're about to find out in our story today... oftentimes we go to Jesus looking for something we genuinely need, but Jesus has something even better in store for us. That's the journey we're taking together today.
(Feel free to turn to Matthew Chapter 9) As we approach this story, the author of Matthew begins to share a lot of snapshots of what Jesus' ministry activity was like... You can consider chapters 8-9 of Matthew like the curtain being peeled back on what it was like to follow Jesus around in his hey-day. From this little section of scripture, it becomes clear that although Jesus was raised in Nazareth, Capernaum had become like a home away from home for him. So in Capernaum Jesus wasn't just some faceless Jewish man... he was gaining notoriety and rightfully so.
This is where the story picks up (Matthew 9:1-2, ESV) And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city [which is Capernaum]. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."
I have to be honest. I've always found this first little interchange between Jesus and the Paralytic a bit puzzling. His friends bring him to Jesus seeking physical healing, and Jesus offers forgiveness instead. What's the deal with that?
We actually talked about this in our community group the other evening and a lot of us agreed... At that point in the story, the idea of forgiveness being extended rather than healing seems like a bit of a bait and switch. I can imagine this paralytic thinking about his friends... I thought you all said you "knew a guy" who could heal me... and instead this dude I barely even know calls me son and "forgives me"... What's the deal?
A general observation that can be hard to swallow. Regardless of the circumstances we have caught ourselves up in, Jesus is willing to forgive. When we think we don't need forgiveness, Jesus is willing to forgive. When we desperately need forgiveness, but it just seems impossible that anyone would look at our worst, and offer forgiveness, Jesus is willing to forgive.
In a completely unqualified way. Jesus is willing to forgive. All we need to do is lay ourselves at his feet... and his word of forgiveness is readily available.
I shudder to mention this because well, it hasn't been all that long ago. Maybe about 5 years ago. I found myself pursuing a Bible college degree, but only reading my Bible if it came up in assignments. I was leading in the Church, but I was spiritually dead. In all reality I was no where near the feet of Jesus.
After my last semester living on a Christian campus the reality of my changing life hit the fan... All of my relationships and friendship were sucked up into the past. I had played college basketball for four years, and I officially would never step on the court to play competitively again. My teammates and coaches... gone. And to make matters worse, I was moving 3 hours away to start an internship to finish my degree. My entire social/support network collapsed, and I was off on my own.
It was in this desolate season of life, in the basement bedroom of a host-home in the Chicago suburbs, that the reality of my waywardness was sucked up into the reality of God's forgiveness extended to me in Jesus. I spent day after day, week after week, even months, laying myself down in worship and surrender at the feet of Jesus each and every day... And the overarching theme of my encounters with Him were "my son; your sins are forgiven."
Have you flamed out your entire family in selfish living? (at the feet of Jesus your sins are forgiven)
Are you the prodigal child who has wasted every good thing God has ever handed down to you? (At the feet of Jesus your sins are forgiven)
Are you the embittered elder brother, withholding hate in your heart toward God and those around you? (At the feet of Jesus your sins are forgiven)
Are you sitting here confused, thinking this is all a bit dramatic, wonder how this even applies to you because, you're a moral and decent person in your own estimation? (At the feet of Jesus your sins are forgiven)
What makes the forgiveness that Jesus has to offer so unique is that it isn't some cosmic bait and switch... His grace extends to you in all times and all seasons as he graciously walks alongside you... Jesus Himself described it this way (Matthew 11:28-30, ESV) 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Forgiveness is something so, so beautiful and wonderful to exist inside of... and Jesus offers forgiveness more than willingly as we lay ourselves at His feet... but there is a sad reality that meets us when it comes to forgiveness... People don't always want you to be forgiven. They don't want your forgiveness to count. Because without mincing words... they hate you.
If you're a parent and those words have ever exited the mouth of your child when you failed to get them the candy bar in the check-out aisle... you know those words "I hate you," can sting, even if the person saying it doesn't really mean it.
I think the time this occurred most prominently in my life was at the age of 5... 5-year-old Daniel screaming at the top of his lungs in the target check-out line... "I HAAAATE YOU MOMMMMMYYY!!!" The reason... (light up sneakers would not be heading home with us that day... I'm still bitter to be honest.)
Can I get an amen from anyone who have had a kid freak out in a department store...
And maybe a sheepish hand-raise from the grown-up kids who freaked out...
What we're about to find out is that not everyone was happy about Jesus behavior in Capernaum... especially the way he was liberally extending forgiveness and healing the sick. So right after Jesus proclaims forgiveness over the paralytic we pick up the story here.
(Matthew 9:3-5, ESV) 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Rise and walk'?
The scribes, a group common associated with religious prestige and elitism aren't really digging on Jesus liberally offering forgiveness. They're thinking... "this man is misrepresenting God... and He acts like He has the authority to forgive?" And then there's this little important phrase... It says... "Jesus, knowing their thoughts..."
This past fall (In our walk like Jesus series) we talked about that idea that Jesus as fully human and fully divine did not necessarily use his status as God's only son to pier into the hearts of men like he was reading their thoughts. So what does this passage show us? Because it seems like the author is saying... "Jesus Knowing their thoughts..."
Just the chapter before our story in Matthew 8, Jesus runs across another man also begging Jesus to bring about healing...in the same city, Capernaum... But here's the catch... whereas the men approaching Jesus in Matthew 9 were likely a group of Jewish men, the man approaching Jesus in Matthew 8 is a Roman Centurion (More on why that matters in a minute). And Jesus approaches this Roman centurion quite differently than He approached the situation before the scribes.
5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him,6 "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly." 7 And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,' and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.
A number of bullet points here...
- This Roman Centurion would have been responsible for a portion of a Roman legion (100 of 6,000 soldiers) who were positioned in Judea to maintain the order of the Jewish nation.
- Israel (and particularly the scribes) would have viewed these over-lording Roman forces as directly antagonistic to God's work in the world. To Israel, the Romans were holding the people of God captive from the land that was rightfully theirs as bestowed by God.
- But Jesus doesn't only offer to heal this Centurion's servant, but he exclaims to everyone around this event in Capernaum... "Hey, this Roman Centurion... yeah, the one responsible for your captivity. The one working on behalf of the Roman's who are directly opposed to the working of God's people... This guy's faith stands out more than all of yours!
So Jesus travels away across the sea of Galilee for a while, the returns to Capernaum again... a city in which Jesus and his action are well known... and having already healed a Gentile, Roman, Military official's servant... he turns to the man lying on his mat in Matthew 9 and says "your sins are forgiven."
And so the scribes I imagine have a disgruntled look about themselves... You could assume their thinking...."He's blaspheming... He's proclaiming lies... He would heal a Roman Centurion's servant AND then act like He could speak on behalf of God and say He has the authority to heal..." I'm willing to say that Jesus knows exactly what He's doing, and exactly why these scribes are disgruntled.
Here's an issue that meet all of us square at the root of the deepest rottenness of our souls. God's forgiveness is for everyone. Everyone. Absolutely everyone. And by everyone, I truly mean everyone... In Capernaum that meant Jews AND Romans.
Right now you are actively withholding forgiveness from someone. You have pitted your soul directly against someone. And for that, humbly speaking, you are wrong. Because God is clearly and completely for that person. Because God is FOR EVERYONE.
Again, I shudder to share from my own life, but just a few years ago I recognized that there was a sharp unresolved division between myself and another individual... And as I was reading my Bible like all good Christians are supposed to right... when these words of Jesus hit me like a bag full of bricks... (Matthew 5:23-24, ESV) 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Pain is real. And people do horrible things. But forgiveness is for everyone.
You literally cannot worship God in purity when you actively withhold forgiveness from someone. Jesus even goes so far as to say to His audience... "If you're trying to bring an offering to the altar, but you're holding something against someone, or someone is holding something against you... go make things right with them before you bring your offering."
I will say that if you have made every effort to seek reconciliation (Which Jesus reminds us is the route we ought to take 7 times 70 times)... then the words of the Apostle Paul from Romans 12 ought to be your comfort (Romans 12:18, ESV) If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. If you have made every effort to reconcile, you can rest at peace, knowing that God is ultimately able to reconcile all things, and all relationships.
The least safe place to be in the world in the seat of un-forgiveness. You can't sit at Jesus feet if you refuse to forgive. Because Jesus' forgiveness is for everyone. But if you live in forgiveness, you can rest safely as Jesus' feet.
So, it's fair to say that the scribes are not impressed with Jesus' willingness to forgive. Not only are they not impressed, but they feel pretty confident that Jesus' forgiveness doesn't count. "I mean, forgiveness can't be for everyone, right?" So Jesus brings things the a climactic point, as our story continues... (Matthew 9:6-8, ESV) He said... 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he then said to the paralytic--"Rise, pick up your bed and go home." 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Now this is the part of the story that always gets the press. Finally, just like Jesus did for the centurion's servant... Jesus simply says the word... and up and away the paralytic goes... carrying his mat in tow.
It's important that we don't get lost in the wrong details here, though. This isn't meant to be a story of healing... this is meant to be a story of forgiveness. But because of the doubt of the scribes and the surrounding audience... Jesus offers a sign... And up and away the paralytic goes.
But they still miss the point. They go off exclaiming... "Isn't it incredible what God can do through people..." When they should be saying... "Jesus is the Messiah, and He has the authority to forgive sins!" (Do you see the difference?)
When the centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant, he wasn't relying on sight... He was relying upon sound... The centurion says... "but only say the word, and my servant will be healed."
Sight can be a very misleading sense. To finally get a response from the audience Jesus had to offer a sign... but what Jesus truly commends, is the posture of faith
The mark of deep, authentic faith, is taking Jesus at His word. The mark of true faith is listening, and trusting, not looking and verifying.
I know a guy... He offers forgiveness without limit. Willingly.
I know a guy... who's forgiveness is for all people... not just some.
I know a guy... who's forgiveness actually counts... because His word has authority.
His name is Jesus.
I know where you can find him too... At his feet in worship and expectation. And in those times his answer will always be...
"my sons and daughters; your sins are forgiven."