“The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6)

When Christ walked on Earth as a Man, He demonstrated He had authority over natural law when He walked on the water. He proved He had authority over spiritual forces by casting out demons. He proved He could materialize physical objects when He fed the multitudes. But all these things were nothing compared to His authority to forgive sin. The Jewish religious leaders were correct when they said, only God can forgive sin. They knew even the High Priest had to go through elaborate procedures to cleans himself before he could approach God and offer a blood sacrifice for sin.

Why was Jesus different? Christ was a sinless man. He didn’t have to clean Himself in order to forgive sin. Christ was God. He could extend mercy to whoever He chose.  When Christ said to sinners, “your sins are forgiven you”, it was more amazing than any of His other miracles. His boldness was based on eternal truth. He knew He was the perfect Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).

Forgiveness of sin is based on who God is, and His love for us, not what we’ve done. You don’t deserve forgiveness.  “When we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly ... God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

Christ paid the full price, and now intercedes for saints. At this moment, dear reader, whatever your sin, He can pardon you just as He pardoned sinners when he walked on Earth. But now, it’s even better. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).