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.

Scars

Last Sunday I was in Chattanooga with friends for dinner. We were in the middle of a great weekend serving together in Ringgold, GA helping tornado victims start to rebuild their lives. As I was walking down the street a woman approached me, asking if I could buy her some food. Her name was Angela. She told me that she had been asked to leave all of the local shelters because she cut herself. She then showed me her scars. Both wrists and forearms were covered in scars. We walked up and down downtown Chattanooga looking for a place still serving food that late, when finally Taco Mac came to the rescue. I bought Angela two chicken tacos for $5.41 and wished her well. What I found out was that Angela was often seen walking the streets asking for food, so much so that several waitresses recognized who I was talking about. It was sad that Angela was known by her scars. This encounter is still with me. Many of us are walking around with scars - both visible and invisible signs of the hurt and pain we bear at times in this life. For many, scars are a sign of defeat; of a victory won by depression, anger, grief, etc. But our scars were not meant for defeat. They were meant as a sign of victory. When Jesus bore our sin on the cross and suffered scars in his hands, they were a prelude to a coming victory. He shortly thereafter showed off these scars to Thomas as proof that he had overcome the grave....so, scars are a sign of victory. On the cross, Jesus was scarred so that you wouldn't be known by yours. We have scars, and the reality is they won't be gone until Jesus makes all things new. But they don't mark us. They don't have control over us. They are a sign of the grace of God.

Do your scars remind you of grace or guilt?

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:24-28