"Jesus Sees Who You Really Are"
Matthew 9
Jesus returned to Nazareth, the town where He grew up as a carpenter’s son. There was a man brought to Him who had suffered a stroke and was left paralyzed. The man's friends brought him in and laid him down on a bed before Jesus.
The Master looked at the love in the faces of the paralyzed man’s friends and family, and He could see that they had confidence that Jesus could heal the man.
Jesus smiled at their faith and said to the man, “Son, be happy and have hope. You are forgiven of your sins.”
Some educated men in the crowd grew angry when they heard Christ said that the man was forgiven.
“This is blasphemy!” they whispered to one another.
Jesus, sensing their thoughts, turned to face them. “Why are you angry? Is it easier to tell this man that his sins are forgiven, or to tell him to stand up and walk? I will show you that I have been given the power to forgive sins.”
Then He turned His attention back to the paralyzed man and kindly said, “Stand up, pick up your blankets, and go to your house.”
The paralyzed man immediately stood up, freed from the stiffness in his muscles. With tears in his eyes, he turned to the door and went home, followed by his friends and family.
Those who had witnessed this miracle knew that Jesus had been given power over sickness and sin, and they praised God that He had given His power to someone on Earth.