[Jessica Jagerson]

MATTHEW 9 – PARDON & POWER

“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” Matthew 9:2

History has presented many inspirational spiritual leaders. Each one had a significant impact on many world religions that continue even until this day.

For example, Confucius, the founder of Confucianism, emphasized personal, civic, and political morality.

Also, there was Siddhartha Gautama, who was also known as the “the enlightenment one”, who founded Buddhism; teaching asceticism and deep meditation. Buddha taught that through deprivation and mortification of the flesh, man could attain a state of awakening, or as we understand it, Nirvana.

In addition to these religious men, there was Krishna of Hinduism and Mohamed from the Islamic faith. These religions focused on external works and the deprivation of man.  Although their teachings appeared to be profound,  none of their doctrines ever provided a provision for the forgiveness of sins.

Although this was the case, there was one who not only preached the forgiveness of sin but He also had the authority to forgive them. His name is JESUS!

CHALLENGE

There have been thousands of Gods and spiritual leaders throughout the ages but only one has claimed to be God. And not only God but also had the power of God. Do you know Him? His name is Jesus, the Lord, and God of the universe.

[Isabelle Tubbs]

Jesus’s authority shows that He is both fully man and fully God. He has the authority to forgive sin, and one example of this is found in this week’s passage. The Pharisees condemned Jesus for saying He could forgive sins because only God can forgive sin. However, this was exactly the point. Jesus dwelled on the earth to be a perfect example for us and to be a perfect sacrifice so we could be forgiven. At the same time, He is the Son of God. His power is amazing and cannot be fully fathomed.

Others may present other religions, but the Lord has shown that He is the One with true power. He is the one true God, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords.
What is great in this week’s passage is that Jesus not only forgives the man, but He also heals him too. He sets him free spiritually from sin and physically from a disability. Jesus came to bring us true freedom.

[Carlos Martes]

There has been thousands of people claiming to be god throughout history time and time but Jesus stands out as unique and His claim to be the Son of God is backed up by his life, teachings death and resurrection. What sets Jesus apart from other spiritual leaders is His sinless life, His miracles and His resurrection from the dead. He didn’t just claim to be God, he demonstrated His divinity through His actions and teachings. Jesus IS Lord. That’s the statement of faith and surrender.

[James Settle]

Beautiful devotion this week. Phil. 2:6 tells us that even though Jesus was in the form of God, he didn’t think it was robbery to be equal with God (James, 2019). This speaks to his humility. Jesus was born in humility, without the notoriety of any other king, but just as sure as He is king, He is God. He was born all man and all God. Not only is He all God, but even though he came in humility when it came to fulfilling the mission in which His Father God sent him to fulfill, He came with power and authority. Forgiveness is what separates Christianity from practically every other major religion. I am so grateful for his forgiveness of my sins on the cross and the unmerited grace he has given. Not only did he have power as a God to heal, but he also had the authority & power to forgive sins and he did this on multiple occasions to prove to the detractors who He was. Thank you Jesus for your saving grace!

References

James, K. (2019). Holy Bible: King James Version, 1611 Edition.

[Caleb Kiser]

Matthew 9 is such a powerful display of both the compassion and authority of Jesus. In verse 2, a paralyzed man is brought to Him, and instead of addressing the physical issue first, Jesus goes straight to the heart: “Some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” That moment isn’t just kind—it’s divine. No religious leader in history has ever made that kind of claim and backed it up with power.

Spiritual figures like Confucius, Buddha, Krishna, and Muhammad all had influence, no doubt. They emphasized morality, self-discipline, and religious practice. But at the end of the day, their teachings revolved around man trying to reach the divine through effort and works. None of them could forgive sin—because none of them were God.

Jesus didn’t just teach good principles. He was the principle. He is the way. And He alone offers both pardon for sin and the power to be made whole.

[Misty Stewart]

Christians believe that Jesus is God based on several important ideas from the Bible. The Bible calls Jesus “the Mighty God,” “the Everlasting Father,” and “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” Other names for Jesus include “The Lord our Righteousness,” “God,” and “Son of God.” Jesus is described as having qualities that only God has, like being eternal, everywhere, all-knowing, all-powerful, and unchanging. He did things that only God can do, like creating everything, forgiving sins, raising the dead, and judging people. Jesus Himself said He was God, taught His followers to pray in His name, and said He and God the Father were one. He said that knowing Him was the same as knowing God, seeing Him was the same as seeing God, and believing in Him was the same as believing in God. The title “Mighty God” is found in the prophecy of Isaiah about the coming Messiah, which Christians believe is about Jesus. This shows His divine nature and role as both God and Savior. Recognizing Jesus as the “Mighty God” is a key part of Christian beliefs, showing that He is not just a human teacher or prophet but God in human form, with all the power and authority of God. These ideas together support the belief that Jesus is God.

[Teisha Nolen]

I grew up in the catholic church, was baptized, confirmed, and took First Holy Communion in the catholic church. God was always there, but I can’t say that I KNEW Him. I knew what I had read in the Bible. I knew about the trinity, but if I am being honest, I viewed God as “out there” somewhere. It was religion. I can honestly say I grew up going to church every single Sunday, and I don’t think I knew God. It wasn’t until I had an encounter with JESUS that everything changed. I realized that God isn’t “out there” somewhere; he is very much alive and in me. As I continued to pray and read His Word, He continued to reveal Himself to me.

[Cameron Tackett]

I was raised as a Christian. However, because my family (mainly Grandparents) were so strict about it as a child and young adult. I developed a lot of distain/aggravation for the church. It was not until I met a man who had been at the very bottom of life. He shared the stories of how he found God in the most desperate of times of addiction and suicide and eventually turned into a preacher. He is/was the most real and genuine person I have ever met to this day. He answered questions I had with sincerity and I always knew that he had first hand experience with nearly every question I asked of him. He was the person that showed me that faith is not only going to church every Sunday. It is how we live every single day of our lives. As you can partake in “church” even if it is you and only other. Now, I am not saying that Sunday service is a bad thing. However, I know for myself. I find it hard to truly develop a personal relationship with Jesus if I am surrounded by “Church Face” Christians. Which unfortunately is what many of the individuals that went to our local were. They put on a mask every single time they went to church and had a very Hollier than thou complex about them. My mentor told me “Church is meant to be a hospital for the broken and weak. Not a place to show off how much [closer] you think you are to God than others”. Those words have stuck with me ever since.

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