Forgiveness

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.  And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming!Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—  “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”  And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed andglorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”  Mark 2:1-12 (NIV)

I love the picture that Mark paints in his gospel - Jesus on the move.  Moving from place to place, healing, teaching, bringing the kingdom to earth.  The first half of Mark is spent answering the question, "Who is Jesus?"  Mark tells the story with a rush of excitement, almost in a shout to the readers, "Jesus is God!"  

Jesus is not just another rabbi.  He has real authority.  He doesn't just talk about the kingdom, he ushers it in like a tidal wave.  Jesus' miracles seek to affirm his identity.  In this passage, Jesus is preaching to a packed house, literally.  Four men interrupt the sermon and lower a paralytic on a mat through the roof.  He seeks healing from Jesus.  Jesus sees their faith, and says "Your sins are forgiven."  In other words, "I don't simply pronounce you forgiven, I forgive you."  Only God can forgive (Ex. 34:7).  

That is what caused such a stir among the scribes.  In their minds, a person is forgiven only after repentance, restitution, and sacrifice. Jesus declares the paralytic forgiven while simultaneously declaring himself to have the power to forgive.

The power to forgive comes through Jesus.

Then I think about my life.  Forgiveness is hard.  When I think about those who've wronged me, I don't know that I've really forgiven some of them.  Forgiveness is more than just a mental exercise.  It's a deliberate choice.  

A choice to no longer hold a person in regard to their offense.  

What about you? I think a good test is to ask yourself, do I look at (person's name) in the same way God looks at me?  Forgiveness is not memory loss.  Forgiveness doesn't remove consequences.  But forgiveness opens the door to deeper relationships.  It allows us to experience the mercy of God who forgives us.  Think about it.  A perfect God forgives sins that are not his own. That reality enables us to forgive sins that are not our own.  If you can't forgive, pray that God will enable you.  It may just be that you experience more of the power of Jesus in forgiving someone.