Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city. And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven." And some of the scribes said to themselves, "This fellow blasphemes." And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -then He said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home." And he got up and went home. But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men. [Matthew 9:1-8 NASB]Jesus continues to shake up the religious establishment. By this time people were used to the idea that Jesus was a healer. But when Jesus saw the paralytic, he went beyond healing and said, "your sins are forgiven."
The result was predictable. Whenever a religious person sees something he doesn't understand or agree with, it is labeled "blasphemy".
Jesus defends Himself against the charge of blasphemy by demonstrating His authority. The same one who says, "Your sins are forgiven" also says, "Get up, and walk."
Some religious people today accept that Jesus heals sins, but deny that he can or will heal physical infirmities.
Jesus has authority to forgive sins and to heal. At no time has Jesus abrogated that authority. Don't believe it when people say that God no longer heals.
When I was a young Christian, an older man stuck his face two inches from mine, and said in a very angry voice, "Healing is of the devil!" As a young believer, I didn't know a lot, but I understood enough to know that this couldn't be true.
The Bible says, "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." [Acts 10:38 NASB]
I never read a verse that said that the devil went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by God. I did read, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." [John 10:10 NASB]
Somehow, the tradition got handed down that says that healing and miracles were limited to Jesus and the original twelve apostles. I'm reminded of Jesus' words, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition....thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down." [Mark 7:9-13 NASB]
As for the continuation of the healing power of God, Paul taught about gifts given to believers in the church. "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit....For to one is given....gifts of healing by the one Spirit," [1 Corinthians 12:4-9 NASB]
And James instructed the church, "Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him." [James 5:14-15 NASB]
Satan may be the "god of this world" but he has no authority in the kingdom of God. Jesus has all authority. And if He can forgive your sins, then He can heal your body. When Jesus uses His authority to heal your body, He brings glory to God.
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