Jesus comes by a man with leprosy, and the man
Luke 5:12-13
fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately, the leprosy left him.
Later, we find Jesus teaching in a house so crowded that a lame man’s friends bring him up on the roof and lower him through the ceiling so he can get to Jesus.
Luke 5:20
When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
Wow! Forgiving his sins! But he is lame. What about that?
We keep reading.
Verses 21-25
The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.
Wow! Jesus is willing, not simply to heal for this temporary time on earth, but so we can stand forgiven before a holy God for all eternity.
The religious leaders were right. Only God can forgive sins, and Jesus healed this man as a witness, that He can do both because He is God.
Jesus is willing to forgive our sins even today; as we read this, if we like the leper, we can bow down and ask, “Are you willing?” Jesus has given His answer: Yes!
