24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.
Speaking to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, Jesus responds to their thoughts accusing Him of blasphemy. They were thinking, and rightly so, that God alone could forgive sins. This reminds me of the verse in 1 Chronicles stated by King David: 9 "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV)
In stating this man’s sins were forgiven, Jesus claimed Deity, which, of course, He is. His subsequent healing of the paralytic gave unquestionable proof that He indeed had the authority to forgive sins and should therefore be accepted as God. Anyone can say “Your sins are forgiven” but the proof lay in the healing. The healing verified His statement. Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matt 28:18 (NIV)
To prove His point that He had the authority to forgive sins, Jesus tells the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” The words translated “get up” is the Greek word “Egeiro” meaning to rise, awaken. It is primarily used of waking those who sleep. Interestingly, figuratively, it is to become attentive to one’s on dangerous position apart from Christ and to the gift of God for salvation. Paul says in Romans 13: 11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:11-12 (NIV)
The words in verse 11 translated “wake up” are for the exact same Greek word. The word rendered “take” is the Greek word “Airo” meaning to take away, remove. The doctrine of salvation as effected by Christ is to take away sin, the imputation or punishment of sin. In effect, Jesus is telling this paralytic (as He tells each of us) wake up from your slumber, I am offering you the gift of salvation which takes away your sin by imputing the punishment of it to Me – hence, the cross. Immediately, this paralytic stands in front of them all. The word stand actually means to stand again. As his physical body was now restored to health, his spiritual body was now restored to a right position with God. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Romans 14:4 (NIV)
No wonder he went home praising God. He was freed. He was no longer encumbered with the paralysis of the depravity of sin. What was made manifest through his physical body, figuratively was what went on with his spiritual body. That is cause for some serious praise! Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalms 103:1-5 (NIV)
“I never have difficulty believing in miracles, since I experienced the miracle of a change in my own heart.” Augustine