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‘When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.’
Mar_2:5
I. The forgiveness in this case was a present forgiveness.—The poor man went home that day with all the peace and happiness of a forgiven man. Whatever burden there had been on his conscience was gone. He rose from his bed that day as completely free as if he had never sinned. Now this was not an exceptional case. The Lord Jesus forgives at once and for ever. This forgiveness is given at the outset of your Christian career, so that you may go on your way all through with the blessed peace of a forgiven man. What a difference it must make in life if we are permitted to enjoy this sacred gift of the forgiveness of sin. We all have our cares and sorrows. But think of the misery of having to bear all that sorrow and care alone, in separation from God, and embittered by the consciousness of unforgiven sin, and contrast it with the joy of being able to draw near to a loving Father, and to pour out the whole before Him in the peaceful assurance that every barrier is broken down, because all sin is forgiven for ever.
II. This forgiveness is granted by the Lord Himself in direct intercourse with the sinner.—This narrative is a beautiful illustration of the Christian ministry. We want to be like those four men who carried that poor man to the Lord. If there be any poor paralysed, sin-stricken soul, we want to help that poor sinner into the presence of the Lord Jesus; and when he is there to trust him to the Lord, and leave him in His hand.
III.—Though this forgiveness was followed by a new life and power, it was granted when the poor man was in a condition of utter helplessness.—It was followed by a cure, and that cure was granted as an evidence or proof of its reality. But the forgiveness was granted before it was proved, and that when the sinner lay utterly prostrate and helpless at the feet of his Lord. What a blessed lesson for those who know the bitterness of sin! Does it not teach that when you are brought face to face with Christ Jesus, and when your eye just looks to Him, with nothing of any kind between your soul and Him, there is a pardon, a free pardon, a full pardon, a saving pardon, a soul-healing pardon, even before you discover in your own heart the slightest evidence of a cure?
Rev. Canon Edward Hoare.
Illustrations(1) ‘ “I know your thoughts,” Christ seems to say; “you accuse Me of pretending to extraordinary powers without any evidence that My claims are well founded. The veriest impostor, you say, may do that. No man has a right to speak so, unless he is prepared to verify his words by signs following. Who can possibly say whether the absolution you pronounce is ratified in heaven or not? “And out of condescension to their secret murmurings, Jesus attests His power. He works a miracle which the eyes of all can see, in proof that He possesses that which they denied to Him, because it carried with it no evident confirmation.’
(2) ‘No notes on this sermon would be complete without reference to Martin Luther’s experience—how, alarmed by a thunderstorm, when a student, he was brought under deep conviction of sin, and he entered the monastery at Erfurt. To gain peace he undertook the most laborious and humbling employments, with wallet on his back, begging in the streets; he practised extreme rigour in the ascetic life; he found no peace, he became thin, and a deadly pallor and strange wildness came over him. No peace; he was discovered in a fainting state on the stone floor of his cell. It seemed to him a fearful thing to meet a holy God. All was darkness in his soul. At this crisis an aged monk, sitting at the side of his couch, repeated the words of the Creed, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins.” The words penetrated the soul of Luther. They were balm to him. At length he said aloud, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins.” “Ah! but,” returned the monk, “we are to believe not merely that there is forgiveness for David or for Peter; the command of God is that we believe there is forgiveness for our own sins!” Luther’s spirit revived; here was rest for his storm-tossed soul: “I believe in the forgiveness of sins—of my sins.” Peace, strength, health came back; he walked in the light and hope and joy of the living.’