IS ILLNESS PUNISHMENT?
Opening Prayer
Lord, we thank You that You don’t deal with us according to our iniquities.
Read MATTHEW 9:1–8
Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
New International Version (NIV)
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Reflect
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Cor. 13:12, AV).
Reading this story alone, we might think the man’s paralysis a penalty for sin. We would be wrong—but the issue is not simple. The New Testament answer is tentatively “No” (cf. John 5:14), and the Old Testament is even less clear. In the Torah, it seems harshly evident that sinners suffer God’s punishment, inflicted on their herds and crops, their families and their own bodies (Lev. 26:15,16; Deut. 28:58–61). But there is another stream running through the Hebrew Scriptures, a stream questioning the assumption that suffering is deserved. Poet and prophet cry out against innocent suffering and their plain observation that evil goes unpunished: “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?” (Jer. 12:1), “Their bodies are healthy and strong” (Psa. 73:4). These questions had no answer then, because they could not be resolved apart from Jesus, whose incarnation lay in a distant future. Only through Jesus do we know that the deep questions of sin and justice are answered in God’s eternity.
If the man’s condition is not a result of punishment, why does Jesus forgive him? First, Jesus always meets people as they are. Jesus was born into first-century Jewish culture, living and working within their worldview. This man probably believes he is suffering a penalty, but he is still a sinner needing forgiveness. Jesus doesn’t bother to clarify his theology but heals him at the most pressing level of his being. Second, Jesus is purposely provoking the religious leaders, not only healing but forgiving sin as well. The leaders believe the man is suffering punishment and have no sympathy. It is hard to think other than that Jesus is claiming to be God. His critics are right about one thing—only God can forgive sin (Mark 2:7). This charge of “blasphemy” (3) would intensify into a charge of collusion with Satan (Matt. 12:24) and ultimately the charge for which he would die (Matt. 26:65,66).
Apply
What outrageous acts in your past are you grateful to Jesus for forgiving? Aren’t you glad that they are drowned in the depths of the sea (Mic. 7:19)?
Closing prayer
“Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world, grant us Your peace” (The Agnus Dei)
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