The Miracle of Forgiveness

“For whether is easier, to say, [Thy] sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?” (Mt 9:5 AV)

Both are equally impossible.  That is, impossible for mortal man.  Jesus is equating the healing of a lame man equal to that of forgiving a guilty man.  It is sometimes read as though saying the words of physical healing would be easier than saying the words of divine forgiveness.  This is only true if both were impossible.  Sometimes it is thought it would be harder to say to a lame man that he is healed than a guilty man that he is forgiven.  We assume this because of the limits placed on our material world.  After all, how much effort would it take to forgive sin?  Yet, that is not how the Pharisees saw it.  They saw the divine forgiveness of sin just as impossible for the healing of a lame man by the mere spoken words.  The question goes to the root of the problem.  The Pharisees refused to concede Jesus as divine.  They would not admit that God came in the flesh.  For those of us who are saved, may we never cease the wonder of divine forgiveness.  It would be just as impossible to forgive sin as it would to make a lame man walk.  So, when God forgave us of sin, He did the impossible!

There was an old farmer who lived in a remote part of Siberia.  He had no contact with the outside world.  He was a cattleman and owned vast amounts of land.  Over the decades, laws and regulations were passed that were averse to his way of farming.  There was no electronic information available at the time and mail almost never came.  For decades, this old farmer was running his farm contrary to the law of the Czars.  One afternoon, a governmental official came trotting up his driveway.  Dismounting, he handed the old farmer a summons.  Because of a lifetime of violations, he owed more than he was worth.  Even if he sold all that he had, it would only satisfy a fraction of what he owed.  Off this official rode without offering any counsel or comfort.  Beside himself, the old farmer started off toward St. Petersburg.  Seeking help any way he could, he could raise a few more funds.  Armed with the generosity of others and the deed to his farm, he appeared before the Czar.  Listing all his assets down to the last rubble, he was so far short of what was owed, there seemed no help was coming.  Humanly speaking, there simply was no way this debt could be paid.  Taking pity on this old man, the Czar simply forgave the entire debt.  Nothing had to be paid.  He could keep his farm, and he donated all charity bestowed to him to the nearest orphanage.  Able to return to his farm, this faithful man died a clear man, free from all debt once incurred.

This is what happens to the sinner who places his faith and trust in Jesus Christ for His atonement.  All sin is forgiven.  Past, present, and future are covered by the blood of Christ.  When the Father looks upon us, He sees the righteousness of Christ.  He does not see the record of failure and filth amassed over the years.  This is impossible with man.  There is nothing we can do to absolve our sin.  We cannot work it off.  We cannot repent it away.  It must and is forgiven by the divine heart.  This is why the Pharisees had an issue.  Rightly so.  If Jesus is not God, forgiving sin is just as impossible as the greatest of all miracles.  If Jesus Christ is not our Savior, it is just as impossible to pass from death to life.  The impossibility of man to wipe away sin is just as great as healing all sickness.  Praise be to God, who forgives more than we will ever realize.