Forgiven!

June 22, 2026, Monday Message:

Luke 5:20 NLT: “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man on the stretcher, ‘Young man, your sins are forgiven.’”

We’ve been following the story of a paralyzed man who was carried by his friends to meet Jesus, the Great Healer! The Bible doesn’t tell us how far they traveled, but I get the impression that the trek took considerable effort. Those carrying the injured man would have been tired and out of breath. They weren’t about to take ‘no’ for an answer!

Jesus had already attracted a full house that day, so there was not room for four more men plus one on a stretcher. But their creative ingenuity was heaven-inspired! Climbing onto the roof, they removed a few tiles and lowered the stretcher into the room, placing the paralyzed man right in front of Jesus! If a healing were to take place that day, everyone present would be an eyewitness! Pharisees were present along with other teachers of religious law. So even those who opposed Jesus would see the miracle with their own two eyes!

Here’s today’s lesson: God rewards faith! Seeing the faith of those who brought their injured friend, Jesus proceeded with the healing. When God sees our faith in his Son, he will adopt us into the Holy Family. Those who truly believe Jesus is the Son of the Most High and believe that he can do everything he says he can do will be rewarded in the life after this life. Jesus will prepare a place for us in God’s forever Kingdom. Yes, friends, our faith will be rewarded!

That day, Jesus surprised everyone. They were expecting him to say, “You are healed,” or, “Pick up your mat and walk!” But Jesus first told the injured man, “Your sins are forgiven!”

This irked the Pharisees, who shouted, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Duh! Jesus just told them exactly who he is – part of God’s Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit! He CAN forgive sins! Rather than dissing Jesus, the Pharisees should have joined with his supporters!

This theological mistake would eventually lead to the crucifixion, but that too is part of God’s vast eternal plan. Jesus giving up his earthly life would be the sacrifice for the sins of the world – your sins and mine! The Pharisees were helping the Kingdom even when they had no idea what they were doing!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Great Healer!

For Saturday, June 20, 2026:

Luke 5:18-19a NLT: “Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd.”

Jesus’ reputation preceded him! He was known for having a unique perspective on Torah, and supernatural healing abilities. Some men wanted to subject that healing ability to a challenging test. Their friend was completely paralyzed and needed supernatural healing. Jesus was the only one who had a chance of success solving their problem. We’re not told what kind of incident or accident put the man in that condition, but I’m guessing that Jesus was their last hope. The men had known their friend before he became paralyzed, and he needed a full restoration. In a way, this would be giving the man his life back. There was no quality of life the way he was now forced to live.

But upon arrival, those gathered to see Jesus had completely filled the room! There was no way to get the man on the stretcher in front of the Master! The men’s faith in Jesus would not let them abandon the project. They needed a plan ‘B’. They were not finished, but they had encountered a bump in the road to healing.

God has a way 

Truth & Freedom Church

of working things out. If he needs you for a project and you hit a bump in the road, don’t quit! Don’t give up! Problems can be resolved; roads can be smoothed. God’s projects will always get finished!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship