“Therefore, Jesus got into a boat and, crossing over the lake, arrived at his hometown. Some people then approached him, carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. On perceiving their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Take heart, son. Your sins are forgiven.”” Matthew 9:1-2
Think of this moment. These friends carry the man, pushing through a crowd. They climb to a roof, probably up a ladder and then, tear a larger hole through the roof above Jesus. Then, they lower their friend on the stretcher to Jesus, praying beyond hope that He will heal their paralytic friend.
And how does Jesus respond to this huge effort of faith and hope? “Take heart, son. Your sins are forgiven.”
Not what the friends or the paralytic expected at all. They expected to hear Jesus say “rise and walk”, hoping to see their friend walk out the door, they couldn’t get him through.
Jesus shows His true colors in this moment.
I relate to both these friends and this man. when Kristina was at the worst and most unknown in her illness, I prayed. I prayed hard and with all true faith that Jesus could heal her. I didn’t just hope He could, I knew He could heal her. When I ‘lowered’ her before the Lord, how did He respond?
He didn’t heal as I had prayed. No, His response was more to the core of the need. He showed His true colors.
He gazed across her bed, loving her and protecting her, but the Lord looked at me. The Lord gazed deeply into my eyes, and soul, responding, “My son, be healed” What!?! I didn’t need healed, I brought her to You, Lord. My daughter, Your daughter.
Jesus kept His eyes locked upon me. He saw the brokenness, and blindness with my soul. He saw the depth of my sinful pride even in my purest prayer. Then, in this lowest place, God healed me. Not of physical ailments, but of a paralyzed soul and heart.
Jesus is solely focused upon the healing of the soul. This is why He looked at this man whom was carried through a crowd, up to the roof and lowered to Him, and replied, “child, your sins are forgiven.”
Even in our days, two thousand years after this story, God still does miraculous healings of body. But, just like when He wakes the earth in Israel, God is more concerned for the healing of soul. Someday, all of our bodies will die. The mortal frame will cease. It is then that life begins.
God will glorify Himself in the mortal world to draw attention and turn eyes toward Him. It is then that God shows His true colors. That of His desire to heal the soul and lift him home to the Father’s Kingdom. Lazarus, this ex-paralytic and his friends all died again – at that point, what was the most important healing?
This is what Divine Mercy is all about – healing of soul – “son, My son, your sins are forgiven.”
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” Matthew 10:28