But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking it over in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone?”
It’s not unusual to hear kids say to each other, “You’re not the boss of me!” This comes from a power struggle, and in a way, their reaction is like that of the scribes in this passage. The logic behind the scribes’ statement is this: If you look like me developmentally, how can you have authority to tell me what to do?
Jesus, although He is God, had the appearance of man. He didn’t stand out from the crowd. Jesus had been teaching just like any other teacher who had gone before Him, but His response to this paralytic man set Him apart. He could forgive sins. Unlike a kid who’s playing a game and using authoring that doesn’t belong to him or her, Jesus revealed that He was more than just a good teacher—He was the Messiah.
Today, we still struggle with the authority Jesus has over our lives. We are creatures of comfort and often only look out for ourselves. When this is our attitude, like the scribes, we might wonder what right Jesus has to ask us to surrender to Him. Jesus didn’t come in a rage and demand our surrender though, He came quietly, as a servant to show us who He is. Jesus is clearly more than just another person; He is the son of God. Jesus is not the same as us; He is greater than us. Even though He came to earth in human form, He never stopped being God, and He has always had authority over us. His authority to forgive sins, to demand our surrender, to change our lives, makes sense because of who He is.
- Are you giving Jesus authority over your life right now? Why or why not?
- What sin do you struggle to believe Jesus has forgiven? How does today’s passage help you live from the freedom of being forgiven?
- Pray and ask God to help you remember the authority Jesus has over your life. Ask Him to help you surrender the things you have been struggling to give over to Him.
