January 29 | Matthew 9:1-8
- Jennifer Jerrome
- Jan 29
- 2 min read
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
First We Are Forgiven
By Jennifer Jerrome
Today’s scripture is titled “Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man.” It’s a narrative that can be found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke and all recount how Jesus first forgave the man’s sins and then healed him.
Which begs the question, “When our sins are forgiven, are we healed?”
Yes! Maybe not in such a dramatic fashion as picking up our mats and walking away after years of immobility, but still remarkable.
This wasn’t Jesus’ first miracle, but there was something different about it. When Jesus saw the paralyzed man, He said to him, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (v. 2).
He called the man, son and just four verses later He refers to himself as the Son of Man.
But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins (v. 6).
There is a connection between the man and Jesus, they are both sons, emphasizing Jesus’s connection with humanity while also retaining his Father’s authority to forgive sins.
Jesus is both human and divine. He is the Messiah in the body of a man.
God knew that in order to truly connect with his people, he needed to become one of them. He needed to take on flesh. And though Jesus is human, he is also divine with the power to do things no one else can do.
The Jewish leaders knew that only God had the authority to forgive sins so when a man said, “Your sins are forgiven,” they thought surely this must be a lie. No one can do this but God Himself. How could this man BE God? Could this man be God?
It’s interesting to note that while both Matthew and Mark write that Jesus addressed the paralyzed man as “Son;” in Luke’s gospel he says, Friend, your sins are forgiven. This highlights the special connection Jesus felt towards this man and in fact all men and women.
Humanity needs the divine. When we are forgiven, the darkest parts of us are healed.
PRAYER
Thank you, Jesus, for forgiving our sins and healing us – body, mind and spirit. May we all pick up our mats and walk away, knowing we are made whole by your love. Amen
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JENNIFER JERROME
I have known I was a child of God from the beginning. I was baptized and raised in the Catholic church and began attending UALC about 18 years ago when my husband I were searching for a place to worship and serve as a family. UALC has helped shape our faith over the years. We have been through several seasons of life and the constant has been our faith and family.
Yes we do need the divine!