SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:21-26
“I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Luke 5:24)
Jesus is the Son of Adam (man), God’s authorized ruler on earth (Genesis 1:26-28).
As God’s agent/representative, in His image, He has authority to speak and act for God.
Here Jesus shows the religious leaders what our role is supposed to be: to live and share God’s grace.
Again Jesus said, “May peace be with you! The Father has sent me. So now I am sending you.” He then breathed on them. He said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:21-23)
Like God (Genesis 2:7), Jesus equips us with God’s Spirit to fulfill our creation purpose.
God has so bound Himself to us that His kingdom comes – or fails to come – through us.
I have the authority and responsibility to let people know that God HAS forgiven them.
Please note, repentance is not the way to BE forgiven (this man had not yet repented) but the key to receiving and experiencing what God has already granted (this man could have rejected it).
God has assigned us the creation role of representing Him, using our words and deeds to communicate God’s love and mercy.
I can verbally say ‘Your sins are forgiven’ because this is my job; people are not forgiven BECAUSE of me and my words, but people hear and experience God’s forgiveness THROUGH me.
To be an agent of love, grace, mercy, peace, justice, truth, this is my creation calling as a son of Adam, with Jesus.
You and I have authority on earth to forgive sins… are people experiencing God’s forgiveness through you, through me?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
God, I am Your ambassador of grace and glory. You send me, like Jesus, equipped with the Spirit, to share Your grace and glory with us. May people experience Your forgiveness through me!