Sin, sickness and faith (9/7/2023)
Matthew 9:2,6 "Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”… But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”
The man was sick and paralyzed. Four men carried him. In expression of their faith, they broke through the roof and placed the sick man before Jesus. He saw their faith and pronounced forgiveness of sin first, then healed him. Jesus linked the three; faith, forgiveness of sin and healing.
Some of the sicknesses people suffer are effects of sin. Before they can be healed, sin has to be dealt with. Faith in Christ, the One who forgives sins, brings forgiveness of sin and then the healing. That’s what happened in this scenario. But the Pharisees didn’t understand this and accused him of blasphemy.
James emphasised the same when he linked faith, confession of sins and healing. When the Spirit leads that this order is followed for healing to happen, please do. When one only asks for healing and ignores the need to deal with sin which could be attached to the sickness, healing may delay or not happen.
Jesus told the paralyzed man He healed at the pool to sin no more lest a worse thing happens to him (John 5:14). It means his previous condition was linked to sin, which if he went back to, other worse things would happen to him.
James 5:15-16 "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Shalom children of God.