Power Through Forgiveness

Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” [Luke 5.18-20]

What Jesus had was reported and recorded as "power." For all my life I have been told I need to pray so that I too can have power. But what I see here in Luke's gospel today is that Jesus did not acquire power through prayer - more accurately, He acquired the ability to forgive (contrast to receiving forgiveness - which Jesus did not need). That is precisely what He gave the man who was let down through the roof by his friends - forgiveness. The manifestation of that forgiveness however was power (healing).

Application? It seems rather straightforward! We should likewise build our ability to forgive through prayer so that as we encounter people we truly forgive them which will be evidenced by transforming power. Instead however, we spend our time in prayer seeking our own forgiveness - see the problem here?

Now it makes sense why Jesus (and all the NT writers for that matter) indicate that "forgiveness of sins" or "salvation" is a once-and-for-all proposition. Yes, we must repent of our sinfulness, but it is imperative that we, by faith, leave it there - the greater task now before us is to forgive!

Is it any wonder that Jesus' teaching about prayer included the qualifier, "Forgive us as (or, the same way) we forgive..."? Did Jesus not teach us that giving forgiveness is the prerequisite for receiving forgiveness? Is it not obvious therefore what we should be praying for if we really want to walk in God's amazing power?

Father, I sincerely thank You for Jesus. Thank You for the forgiveness of sin I have received. I desperately need Your help in forgiving others - I see that the shortcoming of power in my life is directly related to my inability to genuinely forgive.