Jesus' Authority to Forgive Sins

What do you most want from Jesus? Some people yearn for health. Others would like material prosperity, or perhaps a transformation in their relationships. What we need most from Him, however, is the forgiveness of sins. If Jesus had come merely as a great healer, we would still be in our sin and would be forever lost.

Jesus, after declaring the nature of His messianic mission (4:18-21), demonstrates His authority over the effects of sin in the world as He casts out demons and heals the sick. In this week’s climactic passage He goes further as He asserts and then proves His authority to forgive sins.

This passage is full of drama as a paralytic’s friends are so determined to get him into Jesus’ presence that they lower him through the roof of the house where Jesus is speaking. The drama is heightened as Jesus forgives the paralytic and then challenges the Pharisees and teachers of the Law who had come to investigate his ministry.

If you have time, read the parallel accounts in Mark 2 and Matthew 9.

As we look at this passage ask yourself:

• How is this story similar to the healing of the Leper 5:12-16)?
• What can we learn from the example of the friends of the paralytic?
• There is a children’s book about this passage entitled “The Good Friends”. What title would you give this story?