Is It Easier to Say….?
Is It Easier to Say….?
Matthew 9:2-5 (NLT)
2 Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven. Some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?”
4 Jesus knew[a] what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?
The emphasis on this passage of scripture often focuses around the Pharisee’s being upset because they said Jesus was claiming to be God (which He was!) when He spoke of sins being forgiven and healing being available. An important truth is often overlooked when the emphasis is placed solely on that perspective. That often-overlooked truth is that Jesus was saying that forgiveness of sins and healing are “two peas in a pod,” to use a modern vernacular. Healing is just as much available today and salvation is.
The Church, however, has always looked at forgiveness of sins and healing as two separate issues. Why? There are probably at least two reasons. There is the time issue. For most of us, eternity is in the distance. Healing on the other hand, tends to require a focus on the up-close and immediate. We need to see the results of healing now.
The second reason comes by way of religious tradition. The Word tells us that everywhere Jesus went He healed people (although only a few in His hometown because of their unbelief -Mark 6:5) As time passed and healings became more infrequent the “tradition” grew that healing had passed away with Jesus. The Church taught something that scripture does not support.
Someone once said that if the Church focused on healing the way it does on getting people saved, that sickness and disease would be much less prevalent in our society today. The Church needs to have a change in mindset. We need to set our minds on what the Word of God says about healing:
- A good starting place is getting a revelation of what salvation means. The Bible uses the Greek word “sozo” for salvation. It means more than just receiving eternal life. It includes receiving physical healing for our bodies in this life. It also includes preservation from danger. Salvation is a package deal. Meditate on scriptures that talk about salvation.
- Go to scriptures that refer to healing: Exodus 15:26 Psalm 103:3, Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:17, I Peter 2:24, 3rd John 2 (to mention a few). Speak them out loud; meditate on them.
- Finally, wrap all you discover in the healing scriptures around this one scripture – Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus, the same yesterday, today, and forever.” If He healed then, He heals today.
The more we mediate on scriptures dealing with healing and with scriptures dealing with the person of Jesus, the more the truth of Matthew 9:5 will become a reality in our lives. From God’s perspective receiving salvation and receiving healing are one in the same in terms of availability in this life. Once that truth is received by a believer, it becomes a game-changer in his life! 
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