Jesus describes His own mission as being directed to sinners. When He had called the publican Levi to be one of His disciples and accepted an invitation to dine with Levi and his disreputable friends, the Pharisees were scandalized that Jesus should eat at the same table with notorious sinners and violators of the law. “Why does He eat with such as these?” Overhearing their remark Jesus said to them, “Healthy people do not need a doctor, sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not the self-righteous.” (Mk. 2.17)
A prominent part of Jesus’ teaching was devoted to revealing God’s mercy toward repentant sinners. For example, instead of curing the paralytic Jesus says to the sick man “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Jesus thereby implies that sin is a greater affliction than sickness and that forgiveness of sin is more important than bodily healing. The scribes accused Jesus of blasphemy. Jesus says:
Why do you harbor these thoughts? Which is easier; to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven, or to say, Stand up, pick up your mat and walk again? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins I command you Stand! Pick up your mat and go home!
In Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
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