Jason Lee reflected on Matthew 9 as he spoke about the paralytic man’s request for physical healing and reminded students that the man received a far greater healing when Jesus responded with, “Take heart; your sins are forgiven.” Lee shared this message during a recent chapel service at the University of Mobile.
Lee encouraged students to respond by “coming to Jesus — the One who has the power to forgive sins.”
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“Jesus shows He has authority and that His authority and His power extend over every power in the world,” Lee said during the Oct. 22 chapel service. “What we see is that Jesus not only teaches with authority, power and wisdom, but He also demonstrates His authority over healing, nature and demons. His power over sin — even over death. Jesus has power, and He shows that authority. We see that being demonstrated here.”
Lee currently serves as the professor of theological studies and director of the Center of Biblical Integration at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio. Lee also is a UM alumnus who serves as discipleship pastor at Heritage Fellowship Church in Springfield, Ohio, in addition to his academic work.
“Sometimes you hear a statement, and that statement changes your life,” Lee said. “It could change your life for a few months or a few decades, but that statement changes your life. One statement makes a big difference. There’s also changes in life. Maybe you’re at a doctor’s office and hear the words, ‘It’s cancer, and that changes your life for months or even years. Today, I want to tell you about a statement in Matthew 9 where a guy hears a phrase that changes his life forever. That statement is, ‘Your sins are forgiven.'”
“All of these displays of authority that we read about in the text and see in the majesty of the Savior and the King have come for us,” Lee said. “They are an invitation to come and worship Jesus, the One who is the powerful King of Kings. He’s not just displaying His power; He’s displaying His power as an invitation to come to Him and find rescue in Him.”
More important kind of healing
Lee then read from Matthew 9:1-2, when Jesus healed a paralytic lying on a bed. Lee pointed out that more important than the physical healing was the spiritual healing that took place.
“When Jesus saw the paralytic, He said to the man, ‘Take heart; your sins are forgiven.’ While Jesus recognizes that He can deal with the physical problem the man has, He also wants to deal with the sins in that man’s life and forgive him. Today, let’s take that key phrase, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Let us break down those words and see what Jesus is doing in this statement of this man and for all of us who would hear this statement for ourselves. First, let’s deal with the word, ‘Your.’
“There is a personal conversation that deals with your sin and God’s forgiveness. It’s for you. It’s not just sins are forgiven.’ It’s your sins are forgiven. It’s not just something we do in the abstract. It’s personal. It’s not generic. It’s personal choices that I make. It’s things that I did. People that I hurt. You see our sin is a result around our attitudes, our desires, our beliefs and also our actions. You see all of those getting involved, and they are all from the very heart of who we are. They have a very destructive effect among us.”
He added, “Forgiveness is given individually by a gracious Father who cares for you. God not only knows about our sin, but He knows every aspect of forgiveness we need and the Scripture tells us by His grace and compassion for us, He pours that out in a very specific way.”
When ‘guilt is gone’
As Lee emphasized the devastating effects of sin, he reminded students of the good news of the gospel provided by God’s redemption through Christ.
“Forgiveness indicates that our sins are cleared. That’s your new status,” he said. “It’s more than, ‘I’m not just who I was.’ It is, ‘I am who I am now because I’m forgiven.’ Your walk with God is based on your present forgiveness through Christ. In this life you may bear the ongoing consequences of sin, but not it’s guilt. The guilt is gone. The guilt has been removed. Your sins are forgiven. Jesus said, ‘By my power, I bring forgiveness to you.'”
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