Matthew 9:8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.

When we read this story we tend to think that the authority the people were so in awe of was that of healing the paralytic. However, Jesus Himself specifically said that the healing was simply to demonstrate that He had authority to forgive sins. That is the greater authority, because it has eternal impact. With this and other healings fresh on their minds, Jesus sent out his 12 disciples shortly after this, conferring on them the authority He had been exercising. That might be taken as a one-shot thing, except that after His resurrection, Jesus explicitly renewed authority to forgive on His true disciples. (John 20:23) That’s awesome authority! People today often seek healing gifts, but they pay little attention to the greater gift of forgiveness. We aren’t to run around excusing sins, and particularly not our own, but especially when people demonstrate faith, we have been given authority to forgive them. We aren’t going to do that unless we have a grasp of how we ourselves have been forgiven by God, but if that awareness is in place, then we can forgive others in God’s name. We must keep in mind that this isn’t excusing, giving them permission to keep sinning. Such a person doesn’t receive the forgiveness that is offered! However, if there is repentance, there is no limit to the forgiveness.

The whole issue of forgiveness continues to be very big on my radar. I need to seek to understand, appropriate, and communicate all the truths surrounding forgiveness more and more. Jesus telling us we are forgiven to the degree that we forgive is a very sobering thought. (Matthew 6:14-14) The better I am aware of how dependent I am on God’s forgiveness, the more forgiving of others I will be. I need to keep in my awareness that forgiveness is an authority conferred on me by God, and exercise that authority in full obedience to Him. Japanese often have trouble understanding forgiveness, but they do understand authority. At some point I need to do a full study and teaching on the authority that has been imparted to us as believers. That might open some eyes!

Father, I have battered my head against the Japanese lack of understanding of forgiveness for many years. Thank You for this fresh insight into the issue. I ask You to reveal it to my spirit and confirm it through Your Word, so that I may in turn impart it to the believers. May we walk in all that You intend for us, so that we may walk in none of the junk the enemy tries to mire us in, experiencing abiding in Christ through the infilling of the Holy Spirit, drawing many to salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!