HEALING REVEALS JESUS’ IDENTITY
“Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"—He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.”
—Luke 5:23-25
The healing Jesus performed in Luke 5:17-26 was designed to authenticate Jesus' message and to point people back to the Old Testament prophecy concerning the coming Messiah. When John the baptizer was in prison, he sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask if He was the coming One or should they look for another. Jesus responded by saying, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them" (Luke 7:22). Jesus simply quotes from the Old Testament book of Isaiah.
In other words, Jesus is saying that His works demonstrate exactly who He is –God come in the flesh to save His people from their sins. Only God can heal a paralytic man and only God can declare people to be forgiven of all their sins, and Jesus demonstrates He is God incarnate when He heals the paralytic man, and by so doing demonstrates He has power on earth to forgive sins.
Are you trusting Jesus? Have you come to Jesus that you might be forgiven and cleansed of all your sins? Christ is the only hope of forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Trust Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:31).
Tuesday Encouragement: April 21, 2026
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
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A CHRISTIAN'S SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER
My Father and My God,
Thank You, Father, for Your forgiveness of my sins!
Thank You that when I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive and cleanse from all unrighteousness!
And I know it is for Christ's sake and His merit alone that You forgive me.
Jesus has merited my forgiveness by His person and work!
Lord Jesus, thank You for saving me from all my sin, guilt, misery, and the Hell that I have merited by who I am and what I have done!
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for living and dying in my place so that I might be granted everlasting life!
Thank You for fulfilling all the righteous demands of the Law of God in my place!
Thank You for dying on the cross to satisfy the justice of God against my sins!
Thank You for turning away God's wrath from me by absorbing it all in your own body and soul on the cross!
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being forsaken in my place so that I might never be forsaken by God!
You were condemned in my place so that I might sing, "There is therefore no condemnation for those in Christ!"
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your kindness, mercy, grace, love, and compassion to such a weak, sinful, frail, and fragile vessel as I!
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for regenerating my soul and transferring me from darkness to light!
Thank You for infusing true faith into my soul by Your Power and Word!
Thank you for enabling me to believe the Gospel and trust Jesus for redemption!
Thank You for enlightening my eyes to see Christ in the Word.
I know that I would never understand Your Word apart from You giving me understanding!
Thank You for implanting the love of God into my heart!
Thank You for guiding and directing me by Your Word and power!
O GOD: Father, Son, Holy Spirit: I do love You!
However, my love for You and for others is deficient.
I daily fail to love You with my whole heart! And I fail miserably!
And daily I have sinful thoughts, words, and actions!
Of myself, I am unworthy to stand in Your presence and unworthy of the least of Your blessings and truth.
But praise Jesus that He never failed to love You, O Father, with His whole heart, soul, mind, and strength on my behalf and that of all His sheep. And so, by faith in Jesus, I stand before You covered and clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
What Amazing grace of Jesus that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but He found me, I was blind but Jesus gave me sight!
Oh, how I love Jesus!
O Father, I need Your constant forgiveness as I have not reflected Your glory as I ought!
I need Your continual abiding presence and Your face shining upon me lest I slip into despair, discouragement, or depression!
I feel myself weak and sinful and that I need You every hour!
Strengthen and increase my faith! "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!"
Revive me again, O Lord, to serve You with zeal and vigor all the days of my life!
Discipline me when I stray; Keep me humble when I obey.
Bless the worship of Your people today!
May we exalt Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with our prayer, praise, and bowing to Your Word!
I ask all these things in Jesus' name!
Amen!
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