Observation: In the healing of the paralytic, Jesus first pronounces his sins as forgiven, by evidence of the faith of he and his friends who brought him. It is for this the Pharisees think evil of Jesus, questioning his authority to forgive sins. However, the depth of that criticism may be misunderstood.
The most common reading is that, since only God can forgive sins, Jesus is claiming to be God by forgiving sins. However, for the Jews, sins were often 'forgiven' through their sacrificial practices. They even have "sin offerings" that are required for just that purpose ... take that offering for sacrifice, and your sins are forgiven. A priest acknowledging such forgiveness for the completion of a sacrifice would have likely been common, but such pronouncement wasn't mandatory. Jesus was doing no more than to recognize sacrificial faith - in this case, the hard work of the friends and the mutual belief that Jesus could heal - and acknowledging that sacrifice out loud.
This makes the thoughts of the Pharisees even more cynical. It could easily be understood, especially very early in Jesus' ministry, that people could doubt he is the Messiah. That revelation is still a ways off despite all the healing miracles. However, the Pharisees are doubting his authority to simply ... offer a word of hope. They are questioning much more than any claim to be Messiah or priest, and are more at the level of saying "how dare you offer this person a kind, positive word" ... "how dare you offer hope when the person hasn't followed the prescribed procedure".
Of course, Jesus challenges them on this, and it could be said his real question to them is ... "Really? I'm just offering a simple word of hope. Wouldn't it be worse to give him the almost-impossible hope by promising of a completely altered life?" Commanding him to walk would be that tangible, unimaginable level of life-changing hope, which is what happens next.
Application: Offering people a simple word of hope can, in fact, be life changing. No, I don't have the 'authority' to forgive sins, but I do know that sins are forgiven by faith in Jesus, and I can acknowledge that faith when I see it in others, and thus remind them of the truth behind that faith. I can also offer hope in other ways, through encouragement and kindness.
Hope is real, even when it doesn't physically manifest in a changed ability. And our world desperately needs more hope.
Prayer: Lord, this day, may our world receive an overflowing of hope, coming from the lips of your believers, your Church, and your saints here on earth. May we all find ways to encourage and uplift others, for there is no finite supply of hope we are giving away, but it is an infinite river of lifegiving water that flows through us all. May we have and give hope today and every day. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment