PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 9:1-8
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Matthew 9:2)
Is Jesus doing the forgiving, or is he announcing God’s forgiveness?
I believe that Jesus is acting as God’s representative.
As the Son of Man (Adam), he has been entrusted with God’s authority.
But remember, we were also entrusted with this authority.
We were made to represent God on earth (Genesis 1:26-28), to lead on his behalf.
According to John 20:22-23, we have the Spirit of Jesus to forgive sins.
As God’s children restored through Jesus, we also have his authority entrusted to us.
The fact is, God has forgiven the sins of the world, through Jesus’ sacrifice.
Our task is to announce this, to let people know the good news, to spread the word.
The healing of this man is a lesser work, a sign to support the main task.
God may or may not perform a sign through us, but he always forgives through us.
If only we would realize who Jesus is, and who he restores us to be.
Like Jesus, we do not forgive by ourselves, but as sons and daughters ‘of man’.
God is not against people, he is for them and wants to help; we need to let them know!
PRAYER
Lord, I praise you that you have shared this authority with me. Help me to feel the weight and wonder of this responsibility, and use it for your glory!
“they praised God, who had given such authority to man.” I can forgive someone? I can bless someone? God told Abraham that out of his line he would make a nation by whom all other nations would be blessed – a nation of priests. Jesus is the ultimate high priest – under whom I too am called to serve as a priest to bless others. Yes, I can forgive and help others seek forgiveness by pointing them to Jesus! I too join the people who witnessed what Jesus did and praise God that He has given that authority to us. So I need to be ready to offer forgiveness – to offer grace and not condemnation. How do we do so as a church? How do we embrace others – since we are all sinners needing God’s grace – not one of us has made it – we all need Jesus!
How do we see one another?
Some see others in a critical way questioning one’s life style. We need the courage to stand up for Jesus and not be paralyzed by the criticism of those around us. Continue to do what is good. God will help us if we but ask. Build one another up and in this way glorify the Lord. Do one-anothering.
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
Where there is hatred,
Let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;
And all for thy mercy’s sake.
O divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as o console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving hat we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.