1057. The Responsive Christ

The Responsive Christ

"When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee" (Mar_2:5).

When Christ saw the tile being removed and the sick of the palsy being slowly lowered, He uttered not a word of reproach. He was the rather, stirred with compassion. Let us seek to know the reason for all of this.

1. Christ saw a man who needed His help. When the blind and lame and halt stood before Christ and appealed their case, it was their need that moved Him.

The sinner may imagine that his sins will shut him out, but the burdens of one's sins are the very-stepping stones that make his successful approach to the Saviour more assured. Did not the father run to meet the returning prodigal? Did not Christ receive the woman who had seven demons? But you say, "These both were sick of sin"–certainly, that is the reason for their turning toward God; and that is the reason they were received of Him, forgiven and restored.

2. Christ saw their faith. Whose faith? The faith of the four? No, not theirs alone. The faith of the one? No, not his alone. Christ saw the faith of the four and of the one. Have we never read that they who come to God must believe that God is, and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him?

When there is faith, there is always an answer from the Lord. It matters not who comes to God. Be it a Syrophenician, who has no part in the hope of Israel, or be it one of Israel's lowest of the low, a publican–faith brings the answer every time.

3. Christ recognized the paralytic's sincerity,–He called him "son." The Greek word is "tehnon" and signifies "a child." We are impressed with the words of the Master when He took a child and set him in the midst and said: "Except ye be converted and become as a little child."

The Lord saw in this sick man something of the simplicity of trust, the confidence that marks the child, and He called him "son."

4. Christ forgave the paralytic's sins. Most of us have imagined that there was but one quest in the paralytic's mind and that was healing from disease. Such can hardly be the case.

This man was doubtless imbued with the generally accepted Jewish thought–that sickness was the result of sin.

Did not the Jews say of the man born blind, "Who hath sinned, this man or his parents?" Perhaps the one sick of the palsy, had talked much of his own sins, to the four men who had carried him. They had told him that Christ could forgive his sins, as easily as He could heal his body. Thus the man had a twofold yearning as he lay upon his bed, and turned his eyes pleadingly toward Jesus Christ.

Christ knew both his wish and his need, and thus He said "Thy sins be forgiven thee."

Bless God, there is still forgiveness to the one who pleads the Saviour's Blood. He is a Saviour Who can save the sinner from his sins.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR