Matthew 9:18 And he got up and went home. Jesus continues in His healing and preaching ministry. He was returning to His hometown where the people knew of him but didn't know him. As he enters his hometown He is greeted by a group of people carrying around a paralyzed man on a stretcher. Let's look at Jesus’ reaction to this. The first and foremost thing he said was, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” Jesus’ first priority was not the man's physical condition but his eternal condition. Think about it, these friends of this guy were bringing him to Jesus for healing. But the priority was his salvation. If Jesus had dismissed him without the healing, he would have still benefited from the encounter with Jesus. Jesus however emphasizes the true nature of his ministry by forgiving his sin. The scribes were not going to be happy with anything Jesus did or said. Their religious conviction taught them that only God can forgive sin, so their conclusion was that Jesus was blaspheming. So when Jesus counters their protests with an actual miracle of healing, they can ignore the fact a miracle was done and yet still be angry with Jesus. But the conclusion is clear, Jesus is saying, “This miracle is being done so you know I have God's authority to forgive sin. And if I have God's authority to forgive sin, that means, I am God. Jesus’ main mission was to forgive sinners, not to heal. The miracles were in confirmation of His message. Somehow some teach that if your life has been hard, or you've been in poor health, that your spiritual condition remains good. Or that at death, those with sad lives get extra consideration. That is not the case. Stephen Hawking lived for decades with a debilitating disease that left him infirm and confined to a wheelchair. But his lifestyle was that of any able bodied sexual deviant. He died without Christ, and the eternal body he received at his death exists in perpetual torment and suffering. Think of the moment a truly handicapped believer opens his eyes for the first time in death and he can walk, run, see and hear and he's doing so in his glorified body. A healing on earth would have been great, but healing without salvation is still just temporary and we have that to look forward to. I haven't been able to walk since 2020. I have been in constant pain and discomfort since 2018. And yes, I wonder sometimes why God isn't healing me. But though I am no where near the man the apostle Paul was, God has chosen to allow my “thorn in the flesh” to continue, for whatever reason. Nevertheless, not my will, but His be done. I have a day I'm looking forward to, a run through Heaven's gates, no more pain, no more wheelchairs I will be whole and fit. Until that day, I will thank Him for what He's done and tell others. Are you doubting Him because of circumstances in your life? Need encouragement or prayer? Contact me at DavidsPorch59[gmail].com. Matthew 9:1-8 [1] Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee and came to His own city. [2] And they brought to Him a paralyzed man lying on a stretcher. And seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man who was paralyzed, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” [3] And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” [4] And Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? [5] For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? [6] But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He *said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and go home.” [7] And he got up and went home. [8] But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.