Luke 5:17-26 Glorifying God for Sins Forgiven.
For Jesus, physical healing was an occasion to show that He was able to provide a much more important form of healing-the forgiveness of sins (vv 22-24 Cf. Mt. 9:1-8; Mk. 2:3-12). The scribes and teachers of the law knew full well that such a claim on Jesus’ part was a claim to deity (vv. 20-21 Cf. Pss. 32:5; 130:4; Is. 43:25). Note well, Jesus knew men’s hearts and the reasoning which takes place there (Cf. Jn. 2:25). News had spread about Jesus’ ability or power to heal, so for the paralytic and his friends it was more a matter of getting to Jesus, not whether He could heal him (vv. 17-19 Cf. Mt. 15:30). Upon being healed, the paralytic could not help but glorify God, not just that he could walk, but more importantly that he stood forgiven (v. 25 Cf. Lk. 17:15, 18). The people were amazed, and also glorified God (v. 26). It does not mean that all physical illness is as a result of some specific sin on the part of an individual. Jesus, as God, certainly had knowledge that no other human would have. However, it was an occasion to show that He also had authority to forgive sins. Of course, all suffering and sickness in general is as a result of the sinful condition of the human race, but Jesus is able to heal from both.
I love this story in particular…among so many others. For it is no more difficult for Jesus to raise up the sick man than to forgive his sins, for He has all authority in heaven and on earth….
Hi Savannah. Sorry it has taken so long to reply. This day is actually my first venture at responding to people who have taken some interest in my posts. Forgiveness from Jesus is every bit as much a miracle as raising the sick or the physically dead. I hope you continue in your interest in my site.
🙂