RPG Adults
POWER TO FORGIVE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11
Mark 2:8-12
Romans 1:16
“…the Son of man hath
power on earth to forgive sins…”
POWER TO FORGIVE
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion” (Mark 2:10-12).
Jesus proved He had the authority to forgive sins because He was truly God Himself. This was in response to the scribes’ scepticism of Him when they said within themselves, “Who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mark 2:7). Jesus already proved His deity by revealing His omniscience. Now, He is going to prove His deity by revealing His omnipotence.
Jesus challenged the scribes, “Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?” (Mark 2:9). Of course, to just say “Thy sins be forgiven thee” is a much easier thing to do—it is just speech or words—who can tell whether the man’s sins are truly forgiven or not? But to say to a paralysed man “Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk” is to do the impossible. Who would dare say this if he did not have the power or ability to ensure the results, which takes a miracle? To prove that He had all power being God Himself, Jesus healed the paralysed man, and by so doing also showed that the man’s sins had truly been forgiven.
All who saw the miracle were amazed, but did this amazing miracle lead them to repentance and belief? No, it did not. We know this because in the very next chapter (Mark 3:2,6), they kept criticising Jesus and finding fault with Him. This shows us that people are converted not by miracles but by the Gospel alone. Unless they believe the Gospel of Christ, even the Holy Scriptures, they will not believe even if they see such an amazing miracle. Again, “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17).
THOUGHT: We do not see in order to believe. We believe in order to see.
PRAYER: (Pray for faith to trust in God and His Word.)