Which is easier to forgive or heal?

Our vision/mission statement is based on Mark 2:3-12. Join me as we take a look at this passage. Four friends carried a paralytic to the house where Jesus was teaching. Seeing that it was over crowded with no room did not deter them. They were determined to get their friend before Jesus. Once they lowered their friend through the roof, directly in front of Jesus, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." When Jesus perceived in His spirit that some of the scribes were reasoning in their hearts, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" He responded with "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." Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" I want to focus on the part where Jesus said, "which is easier to say", to forgive or to heal.

By Jesus asking 'which is easier to say', He was implying that His authority was behind His words because what He said was coming to pass. His words are not without meaning, because He only said what the Father said to say and do.

The scribes present needed to know that He had power to forgive sins. The way He demonstrated it was by raising up the paralytic. The other point here is which is easier, to forgive or to heal? Is it one or the other? Or is it both? I have Good News! Neither one is hard for God! They are both easy! Although forgiveness may be more difficult for some. It involves recognizing and taking responsibility for sin in your life. The paralytic needed to hear and know that his sins were forgiven. Then he was able to respond to the authority of the Word (Jesus) to 'arise, take up your bed and go to your house.'

We see the forgiveness of the Father demonstrated in the story of the prodigal son as well. Some say, "The Father went daily to the road, earnestly awaiting his son's return". Once the son came to his senses that he would be better cared for as a servant of his Father, he made the decision to go to his Father. He decided that he would beg for forgiveness as he thought he no longer deserved to be called a son due to his many 'sins'. He needed to be forgiven and to know that he was forgiven. But in reality, his Father had already forgiven him and was awaiting for his son to return home. A harsh, unloving, unforgiving Father would not look daily for his son to return home. But a loving, forgiving Father would. The son actually repented to the Father, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son." The Father responded by telling the servants to 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.' Bring on the feast to celebrate 'for this my son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found.' Notice the father did not say, son I forgive you," but saw that his son had repented and then demonstrated his forgiveness by restoring him.

Is there a connection between forgiveness and healing? Forgiveness and restoration? Does that mean that unforgiveness is related to disease? That will be the topic of the next blog.