Forgiven & Healed

Mark 2:5 - When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

This passage used to really baffle me. The paralytic man didn't ask to be forgiven of his sins. Neither did Jesus see his faith and forgave him. Jesus only saw the faith of his friends, who climbed the roof and lowered him to be healed.

Can salvation be received on behalf of someone? I don't think so.

Mark 2:9-11 - Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

It is obviously easier to say, "Your sins are forgiven you" than to say, "Arise, take up your bed and walk." You have to prove the latter if you say it.

Jesus, however, chose the tougher move. He healed the paralytic man to prove that He has forgiven his sins. Apparently, for Jesus, there is no separation between forgiveness and healing. It is the religious people who tend to say, "Oh forgiveness of sins is spiritual, but healing is a different story."

Jesus said, "But that you may know that the Son of Man has the power on earth to forgive sins." He confirmed the forgiveness of the paralytic man by healing him.

This is the work of grace. Jesus didn't need the paralytic man to say, "Lord, forgive me." By His grace, He chose to forgive his sins. Because He is the Son of Man who has the authority on earth to forgive sins.

On the Cross, Jesus forgave the sins of the world. It is the same work of grace. God so loved the world that He chose His Son to die so that the sins of every mankind are forgiven. This also means that He has chosen to heal ALL.

However, being forgiven and healed doesn't automatically mean that a person has entered the kingdom of God. It is by grace THROUGH faith. It requires a response by us - believing in Him.

The question is not, "Am I forgiven?" or "Can I be healed?" Because the work is already completed on the Cross. The question is, "Will I believe in Him as the Saviour and Lord?"