The online KPPI (Praise and Divine Healing Service) took place on Monday, March 22, 2021, through a Live Streaming program that can be watched on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
The Word of God was delivered by Rev. Jacob B. Sumbayak, taken from Matthew 9: 1-8 about a paralyzed man being healed.
Jesus Is Powerful to Forgive Sins and Heal
Matthew 9: 1-2, So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
This paralyzed man was brought by his carriers to ask Jesus for healing. But Jesus could see further as Jesus saw their faith. So that He said, “…your sins are forgiven.”
Who can forgive sins? No one can, even though he is so good, so powerful, even a great king, no one can forgive sins.
Matthew 9: 3-4, And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
The scribes considered Jesus to be blaspheming God because they did not acknowledge that Jesus was God, while they knew that only God had the power to forgive.
Jesus is the All-knowing God so that He could know the thoughts of the evil of the scribes and say, “Why do you think evil things in your hearts?”
Matthew 9: 5-6, For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
Words like this can only come from the Almighty God. Neither is it possible for a human being to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” nor to say, “Get up and walk.” Only God can do that.
Here Jesus wanted to declare that He was Lord, so He said, “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
Who is the Son of Man? Jesus Himself, He is the Son of God or God became human, so Jesus often calls Himself the Son of Man.
That is why He is so powerful. Who can say to a paralyzed man, ““Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house?” Even if there is a servant of God who does it too, but he does it in the name of Jesus.
But Jesus is God, He could do it and this paralytic man received two miracles at once, which were forgiveness of sins and also healing.
When Jesus Sees Faith, He Never Delays to Answer It
In verse 2 it is said that when Jesus saw their faith, it meant the faith of the sick and also the carriers. If we read in Mark 2: 3, we will know that there were four men who carried this man, and Jesus saw their faith.
How could their faith be seen? Their faith was seen in their efforts to bring the paralytic man right before Jesus.
In Mark 2: 3-4, it can be seen that they opened the roof of the house, determinedly breaking into someone’s house at the risk of having to pay for the compensation later, and lowered the paralytic man with a rope. This showed that they had faith and dared to pay the price.
This strong determination to come to Jesus shows faith. Jesus was always very touched by faith and Jesus never delayed answering people’s faith.
So the first words to answer their faith, Jesus said, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” Jesus knew very well that the root problem faced by this paralyzed man was sin. Indeed, not all sicknesses are caused by sin, but this man was paralyzed because of sin.
Jesus is God Himself
Jesus called the paralytic man who was probably the same age or even older than Him, “Son….” This means that Jesus wanted to show that He is God and all men are His children.
Jesus is the Word who became human. In the Word, all things were created by God. Jesus had existed before creation because in Him God created all things. Jesus once said in John 8 :58, Jesus said to them, “Behold, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”
Jesus is God Himself. Who can forgive sins? No one can forgive sins except God Himself. He can forgive sins, He can heal the sick. As we have read before, the paralytic man, after his sins were forgiven, arose and went back to his house, a miracle happened.
Jesus Loved Us Very Much, so He Came Down to Earth to Atone for Our Sins and Save Us.
Isaiah 53: 5, “But he was pierced for our rebellion, he was bruised for our iniquities; the reward which brings us salvation is inflicted upon him, and by his stripes we are healed”.
Sins had to be paid for, and Jesus paid the price by dying on the cross. The reward of the torment we should have endured was borne by Him, our sins were paid in full on the cross. This is what Jesus did because He loved us so much.
John 3:16, Because God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.
Whoever believes, his sins are forgiven. This is the greatest miracle in our life The blood of Jesus frees us from the bondage of sin, from the pressures, because there is Jesus in us. He will give you peace and joy.
For those of you who are sick, trust me, by His stripes we are healed. Have faith that Jesus is able to heal you. The paralyzed man could not walk at all, but Jesus only said, “Arise, take your bed and go to your house!” So at once the miracle happened, the paralyzed man got up and walked.
Hebrews 13: 8, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Jesus Christ is the same, His power is the same, yesterday, now and forever. Even now, Jesus can heal whatever your illness is. Trust in God and receive miracles.