Better Than Perfect Health

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” (Mr 2:5 AV)

 

The rest of the account may cause us to miss a particular application here.  The sick of the palsy was let down through a roof.  Among those who gathered around Jesus were scoffers, hanging on every word He might say which would fit their agenda.  When Jesus perceived their scoffing at divine forgiveness, He healed the man with the palsy to prove He had the power to forgive sins.  There is a secondary application here on which Jesus did not elaborate.  It was my verse that I shared with my congregation.  There is something far more precious than perfect health.  Forgiveness of sins!  Jesus could have simply healed first and then forgiven the sins of the man sick with the palsy.  Rather, by presenting the problem in the order of importance, Jesus is stating that unforgiveness is a bigger issue than a physical disease.  Therefore, forgiveness of sin takes priority.

Serving as a chaplain in our community hospital proved this point over and again.  There were several patients who were facing the end of their lives and what they wanted more than a cure is to get right with others.  There have been several accounts I have shared before but one truly stands out above all others.  It was a Tuesday night and I was doing my rounds.  When I finished, I went down to the cafeteria to have a bite to eat.  My usual habit was to eat a sandwich or salad and catch up on some bible reading or sermon prep.  I was sitting and enjoying my alone time with the LORD when I got a page.  Up to the floor, I went.  Checking in at the nurse's station, I was informed that a man in his late sixties was diagnosed with chronic heart failure and was in desperate need of a transplant.  The transplant team had visited a bit ago and informed him because of his age and lifestyle habits he was not a candidate for a new heart.  He specifically called for the chaplain, so when I went in, he was relieved to see me.  But when I went in, it was clear he had been crying.  I sat in a chair while he sat on the edge of the bed.  They had removed most of his tubes and only wore a heart monitor.  As he sat on the edge of the bed he began to tell me of his situation.  The doctors had given him weeks, not months.  He sat there sobbing for a good long while, then began to relate how he had, for a number of years been unfaithful to his wife.  Some of which she knew of.  Most of which she did not.  He regretted all that he had done and simply was looking for peace.  His guilty heart was more than he could take.  He knew he would never get a new heart and all he wanted to do was receive forgiveness from all whom he had hurt.  We began to speak of the one forgiveness which would matter to him most.  What he really wanted was forgiveness of sin from God.

When push comes to shove, there is nothing we can do to stop our bodies from failing.  We will eventually go the way of all flesh.  The Bible says it is appointed unto men, once to die.  This is the one unavoidable consequence we all share as Paul tells us that death passes on to all people because all people have sinned.  Perfect health is impossible as long as we live in the earthly body.  What matters most of all is forgiveness of sin.  This was a secondary point Jesus was trying to make.  He may have healed the sick of the palsy, but unless he has forgiveness of sin, it would be all for naught.  The sick of the palsy eventually died anyway.  His body failed.  He was buried like everyone else.  The relief he received from the LORD was temporary.  Eventually, he passed from something else.  What remains is our account with God.  It is far more important than any physical need we may contend with.  So, what are your priorities?  Are you obsessed with the perfect life?   You will never have it.  Or, are you more concerned with your standing before God?  Forgiveness of sin matters more than having all your problems resolved.  Forgiveness is for eternity.