Beyond Healing: The Greater Grace of Forgiveness
The story of the deliverance of two demon-possessed men sounds unbelievable and even bordering to mythical for our time. After Rev. Sang Ho Bae argued that such mighty deliverance serves as a proof of Christ's sovereignty over evil, he then turned his attention to a greater demonstration of God's grace, which is the power to forgive sin.
When Jesus returned to Capernaum, the people had already heard reports about Him. News that the sick were being healed, that demons were driven out, and that the wind and the sea obeyed His command had shaken the whole region of Galilee. People came to Jesus carrying the paralytic on the bed on which he was lying, asking Him to heal him. The reason they were able to go this far was that they had a firm faith that Jesus could surely heal this man. The Gospel of Mark records that when they could not enter the house because there were too many people, they tore open the roof and lowered the bed through the opening. Such an action is clear evidence of how strong their faith was.
True faith does not remain in emotion or thought but is always revealed in action. They did not doubt in the slightest that Jesus could heal this man. Jesus saw their faith. Scripture says, “When Jesus saw their faith” (Matt 9:2). Faith is an unseen condition of the heart, but true faith is always revealed through action. Their faith appeared in the act of tearing open the roof, and Jesus, seeing their faith, healed the paralytic. Before healing the sickness, Jesus first said, “Child, take heart; your sins are forgiven” (Matt 9:2). This word was shocking to the scribes of that time. They thought to themselves, “This man is blaspheming” (Matt 9:3). This is because the authority to forgive sins belongs to God alone. But at that very point, Jesus revealed who He is. Jesus is not merely a healer; He is the Son of God who possesses the authority to forgive sins.
The more fundamental problem than the healing of sickness is the forgiveness of sins, and Jesus dealt with that fundamental problem first. Scripture does not say that every sickness is the direct result of sin. In John 9, Jesus clearly said that the suffering of the blind man was not because of his personal sin. Yet Scripture also teaches that sin has a deep effect on the human soul and body.
Sin separates human beings from God, and in that separation, humans become seized by anxiety and fear, emptiness, and confusion. Sin presses down upon the soul, and under that weight, humans lose peace and may even fall ill. Perhaps this paralytic’s illness may have been caused by his sin. Therefore, Jesus’ act of first forgiving sins was addressing the more fundamental and important problem that humans face.
Jesus knew the thoughts in the hearts of the scribes and said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? ” (Matt 9:4–5). The authority to forgive sins is invisible, but the healing of sickness is visible. So Jesus proved the invisible authority through a visible miracle. “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Matt 9:6). And He said to the paralytic, “Rise, take up your bed, and go to your house” (Matt 9:6). The man immediately rose and walked, and the people were afraid and gave glory to God.
This event clearly shows the relationship between faith and miracle. It is not the miracle that creates faith, but faith that calls forth the miracle. God sees faith and works. It was the same when the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River. The waters did not part until the priests put their feet into the river (Josh 3:15–17).
Faith is trusting in God’s promise and stepping onto that promise. God always reveals His power upon the footsteps of faith. Jesus forgave the paralytic’s sins and healed his sickness. The forgiveness of sins is the greatest grace a human being can receive. Scripture says, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Ps 32:1). When the problem of sin is resolved, the soul gains freedom, and in that freedom a person stands boldly before God. When guilt is removed, the devil no longer has any basis on which to hold.
The forgiveness of sins is not merely an emotional change but the restoration of one’s relationship with God. The words Jesus spoke to the paralytic—“Rise, take up your bed, and go to your house”—do not remain merely a command of healing. They are also a call that opens his life anew. He rose, took up his bed, and walked out. The bed that once symbolized his helplessness now became a sign testifying to God’s grace. A person who has met Jesus no longer remains in the place of the past but begins a new life.
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