The Sin Issue...

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]

If science has done society an injustice, this is it. No longer is sickness and disease associated with sin. It has become something of nature or man's doing - but certainly not a problem with a spiritual solution.

There was really no question in Jesus' day whether or not sin was responsible for sickness. Consequently, forgiveness was the main factor in healing! Unfortunately, most were not finding forgiveness in the old system of the Law of Moses and were therefore not finding healing either.

Jesus changed all this. The blood of sacrifices and the numerous offerings and rituals did not (because they could not) give real forgiveness (and therefore healing). Jesus' sacrifice of Himself offered that real forgiveness. And, as far as 'practical transfer' is concerned, this is precisely what happened when people hated Jesus for the good He was doing even before His own blood was shed. When the outcast sick person was healed, there was no longer a 'judgment' to be directed there, and so, the judgment was shifted (or practically transferred) to Jesus instead. Ultimately, it was Jesus' forgiveness of the sins of others that led to His crucifixion which then, in turn, 'sealed the deal' if you will not only for our salvation, but for our healing.

The injustice science has dealt us is that it has busied us with understanding more (and consequently still not solved the world's greatest problems) while causing widespread neglect of the universal problem of sin evidenced by sickness and disease. Science is not the enemy, but a useful tool of the enemy to distract mankind from the real problem of sin.

So who's head is really in the sand?

Father, I feel like I have only begun to comprehend a portion of what Jesus has done for me and mankind. I feel certain there are much more intelligent people than me who can negate most of what I have written here today, but not without at least wondering about the sin issue...