Dear Christian friends:

Not far from New York City there is a cemetery where there is a grave which has a strange headstone marker. Just one word is inscribed upon that stone. There is no name, no date of birth or date of death. There is no decoration or verse, just one word. FORGIVEN. "Forgiven", that is the best anyone can say about any man or woman.

Forgiveness of sins satisfies our greatest need.

In our text we read how Jesus forgave the paralytic man before He healed him. Many people may think that the man's first and greatest need is to be healed from his terrible paralysis. But Jesus does not think that way. Jesus sees his sickness and helplessness and feels sorry for him. But Jesus sees more than his bodily ailments. Jesus sees his sin and guilt and his need for forgiveness of sins and peace of heart and mind. Jesus wants to impress upon this man and us also that our greatest trouble or problem is sin.

Often we think that bodily needs are more important than spiritual needs: Food, clothes, house, friends, praise and honor. We fail to value our relationship to God. We do not think much about sin and the terrible results of sin.

Stop and think about sin a few minutes - what terrible things happen because of sin: stealing, lying, killing, mugging, enemies, war, divorce, broken marriages, broken families, sickness and death.

The Bible says, "The wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23) “You (God) are angry and we die; and through Your anger we are frightened. You take our sins and lay them before You; Your face sees our secret sins."

(Psalm 90:7-8) Every time you go to a funeral and see a person lying dead and cold in his coffin, you see God's anger because of man's sin; you see the terrible results of sin. The mortician tries to hide it with make-up and flowers.

Our greatest problem and trouble is sin. Our greatest need is to receive forgiveness of sins. When God forgives our sins He takes away our shame and guilt. We become friends with Him and have peace with Him, and then we can also make peace with one another. Former enemies become friends. Stealing, lying, cheating, killing, divorce stops. People love and forgive one another and help one another. When someone becomes sick, his friends feel sorry for him and help him and comfort him. Even when we must die we think of our death as a sleep, a rest, a going home to God, a beginning of eternal life. Because God forgave his sins St. Paul could say, "I have a desire to depart (die) and go be with Christ which is far better." (Phil. 1:23) "I live for Christ, and if I die that is even better (gain)." (Philippians 1:21)

Forgiveness of sins is God's greatest gift to the world because it satisfies our greatest need. Forgiveness of sins is God's greatest gift to the world also because it cost God a great price.

Forgiveness of sins is not free. Someone must pay the punishment of sin. God cannot forgive sins except the law be obeyed and the punishment suffered. God is a just God and Judge.

One day a man came before a judge. He was arrested for a small crime, and the judge fined him $25.00. But he was broke and couldn't pay the fine. The judge noticed that he was a former classmate from college. So the judge stepped down from the bench and paid the $25.00 for his old classmate. Then the judge said, "John, get your coat, you are coming home with me for dinner tonight."

God is like that judge. He loved us and felt sorry for us. He didn't want us to pay for our wrongs and sins and go to hell. So God Himself paid for us. He sent Jesus, His only Son to come here on earth and suffer the punishment of our sins. That's what Jesus did upon the cross. (John 3:16) Peter writes, "God paid a ransom to save you, --- and the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver, as you very well know. But He paid for you with the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God." (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Forgiveness of sins is God's greatest gift to the world because it cost God the greatest price.

Forgiveness of sins is the greatest gift from God to you also because it helps you meet every other need with trust in God's love.

The paralytic in our text had faith and confidence in Jesus' love. He knew that God loved Him because God sent Jesus to forgive his sins. He, therefore, knew that Jesus could heal him if He wanted to do that. Only God can forgive man's sins and only God can heal man's sickness. When Jesus forgave the paralytic man's sins the Jewish law teachers said, "Jesus mocks God, only God can forgive sins." (verse 7)

Jesus said to them, "Why do you think that? Which is easier to say, I forgive your sins; or arise, take up your stretcher and walk? But that you may know that I have power to forgive sins. (Jesus said to the paralytic) Arise, take up your stretcher, and go to your home." and immediately he arose, took up his stretcher and went home.

Jesus showed Himself to be the mighty Son of God who has power both to forgive sins and to heal all sickness. The paralytic man knew that God loved him and forgave him and could heal him if He wanted to do it. Because Jesus forgave his sins, he believed that Jesus can also help him in any other trouble or need.

So we should think and believe. St Paul said, "God who spared not His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, shall He not with Christ also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) Yes, He will! God who loved us and gave His only Son to die for us, He will also give us every other gift or thing that we need. If He did not keep back His Son, He will keep back nothing else that we really need for our eternal life.

He may not give us everything we want, but that is only because He knows what is best for our souls. You fathers do not give a gun or a knife to your very small children. You know how dangerous it is. Jesus says, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! "(Matthew 7:11)

God who forgives your sins in Jesus, He loves you! You can depend on Him to give you anything you really need. Trust His love and wisdom. All things that happen to you are for your soul's eternal health. You can believe that because He has already given you His greatest and most precious gift: Jesus and the forgiveness of sins.

Forgiveness of sins is God's greatest gift to you. It satisfies your greatest need. It cost God a great price. It helps you face all other problems in life with trust in God's love and wisdom.

That precious gift He will give to you and me again. Today when we come here to receive the Lord's body and blood in Holy Communion. Value it as you value nothing else in life and thank Him for it.

Amen.