THE STING (Luke 5:17-26) Intro Suppose I say something rude to Jim Kennedy.

. You are a bit surprised, but you recover your composure and said, Dave, that was really a rude thing to say to Jim. But I forgive you. Lets let bygones be bygones. Think Jim might object to your forgiving for him? That would be more than a little weird. But thats what happens in our text today. For a great reason! After 18 year as a builder, Jesus is preaching the gospel, and Hes healing a lot of people to show its true. Luke has been revealing in small steps how broad is Jesus authority. Hes shown His power over demons, nature and disease. But today, that authority takes a quantum leap forward. He heals again a paralyzed man, but the point of the account is that Jesus authority extends to the nightmare that plagues every person who ever lived -- the nightmare of sin. Sin is at the root of every problem we have anxiety, fear, moral failings, broken relationships, and ultimately death both physical and spiritual. Sin is the cause. But Jesus can actually remove sin and guilt. This authority sends a shockwave thru the audience. The account plays out like a sting operation like the movie The Sting. Remember? Everything looks one way, and then it all reverses. The fix is in. Well, the fix is in here. I. The Setup (17-19)

The setup comes in three parts. First, the Pharisees. V. 17, On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. Jesus is preaching. But for the first time in Luke, the Pharisees are there from all over the country not to listen, but to find fault. Theyre black hats. The Pharisees are one of 4 major religious groups in Palestine, the others being the Sadducees (wealthy, elite priests think bishops and cardinals), the Zealots (revolutionaries who hated Rome think Castro or Che Guevarra), and the Essenes (ascetic monastics think monks). The name Pharisee means to separate. They were middle-class separatists. From what? From anything that failed their interpretation of the law. While not priests, they were so devoted to their tradition that the people revered them for their piety. Elite in piety they looked down on everyone else.
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The Pharisees knew Moses law, but had added many interpretations. For example, the law said to keep the Sabbath holy. But they further defined that to mean no travel (which meant mile or so), no carrying anything (tailors had to check garments for pins!), no helping anyone unless it was life or death. The Pharisees had long ago lost the spirit of the law by being caught up in their definition of the letter of the law. Tradition was much more important to them than the actual Word of God. Youll never understand the gospels until you get this. Jesus tells them in Matt 15 that some of their traditions actually violate the law rather than enlightening it. They numbered about 6,000 at this time. But the people looked to them for religious leadership. And they loved the attention. They loved the attention! Any violation of their tradition was considered anathema to them and, so they thought, to God. One of their traditions was relevant to this story. They taught physical disability was a direct result of sin. Look at John 9:1-2, As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? The assumption that the mans blindness resulted from sin reflected the teaching the Pharisees and was common knowledge to everyone. Jesus refutes that in John 9, but that was what everyone believed and it plays dramatically into this story. Jesus is about 18 months into His ministry and enormously popular. People are coming from everywhere to hear Him and to be healed. The religious elite are more than a little jealous that attention is being diverted away from them to this itinerate preacher. They consider that the people have been brainwashed that, miracles aside, He cannot be a prophet or Messiah because He routinely breaks their traditions. Understand, Jesus kept the law perfectly, but He consistently, and purposely broke their interpretations. He didnt do that just to tweak them. He wanted them to see the error of their ways, and most of them were not in the least interested.Theyd have gotten rid of Him in an instant, but His popularity was so great they did not dare touch Him -- not without having good reason. So, as Luke introduces them, they are not there to learn. Theyre here to discredit Jesus whom they hate! He has invaded their exclusive territory. He has intruded where Hes not welcome. So, they gather in force to destroy. But they need ammunition and they are about to get it only to see it all blow up in their face. You can almost imagine Jesus looking out on the
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crowd and thinking, Oh, boy. The gangs all here today! It was the first of many occasions when Jesus would foil them. They were about to find out face-to-face who Jesus was. The fix was in. Jesus was always 3 steps ahead, and they never saw it coming until it was too late. God used their evil intentions to show who Jesus really is. Thats the Pharisees. The second part of the setup is the end of v. 17, And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. From the moment the Holy Spirit came on Him at His baptism, the power of the Lord (Yahweh, the personal God) was there for Him to heal. That was not His focus. But as king of a kingdom where there will be no suffering, no pain, no disease, no disability, healing followed Him everywhere He went, accrediting His message. So, on this day, as usual, He starts with His primary purpose to preach the good news of the kingdom of God. But Luke makes clear that the power of God is with Him to heal. That will be important. Thats why Luke emphasizes the point. The third part of the setup is the paralyzed man and his friends, of whom there were 4 as Mark tells us. Vv. 18-19, And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. What friends! They believe Jesus can heal their paralyzed friend; they just need to get him there. They get a stretcher and carry to where Jesus is teaching probably Peters house. But the crowd is so thick, they cant get in. Many might have quit at that point. Sorry, pal, we tried. Maybe next time. Not these guys. There was no quit in them. They got on the roof, probably by outside stairway, disassembled tiles and let their friend down directly in front of Jesus. Now, its tempting to consider lessons learned from these guys. Are we even a fraction as persistent in bringing to Jesus our friends and neighbors who are still outside of Christ? Do we care like these guys did? V. 20 is particularly encouraging in this regard. And when he [Jesus] saw their faith. Jesus responded to the combined faith of the man and his friends. Sometimes, Beloved, it is necessary for us to believe for others to bring them to Christ. Our faith cant save them but it can be a critical part of the process. To trust God to save someone and do what we can to bring them to Christ is the greatest of all human gifts. Are we battling for someones eternal destiny?

Peter Marshall said, Todays Christians are like deep sea divers encased in suits designed for many fathoms deep; marching bravely forth to pull plugs out of bathtubs. Is that what we are? Bathtub plug pullers or are we in the battle? Are we believing on behalf of family and friends and then inviting them to dinner, asking God to turn the conversation to Him taking someone to a ballgame, giving someone a book they might read about God? These men persisted and they got their friend to Christ. So, the stage is set. We have the hostile and jealous Pharisees looking for ammunition against Christ, we have the healing power of God with Him, and we have a paralyzed man set right down in front of Him. Thats the setup. The fireworks are ready. II.
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The Surprise (20)

And when he saw their faith, he said, Man, your sins are forgiven you. Now, thats a shocker! No one expected that comment. Everyone there and even Lukes readers expect to hear, Young man, get up and walk. That would have been amazing, but expected by this time. Instead, Jesus says, Man, your sins are forgiven. You can almost feel the air go out of the room, cant you? Your sins are forgiven? He didnt come to get his sins forgiven. He came to get healed! What a letdown. What Jesus said was at once unexpected, shocking, and disappointing to some because there he lay. No miracle. No miracle?!! Really! No miracle? How foolish we are! Look again. Neither this man nor his friends said anything. His need for healing was self-evident. But Jesus saw deep into their hearts. Shaken with grief and fear because of his sins, Jesus knew he wanted healing, but more importantly, Jesus knew he wanted forgiveness. And He granted a far greater miracle than healing the body; He granted forgiveness. Only faith can bring forgiveness. That was the mans hearts desire or Jesus would not have granted it. This man had figured out what many people never see his greatest need was forgiveness. Far greater than any physical benefit that might be granted was the wonder of sins forgiven and guilt released. We pay millions to get rid of guilt by denying it exists. Jesus has a better way. Confess sin and be forgiven. Thats what He came for to seek and to save that which was lost. Lost in what? Lost in sin. Now, finding a repentant heart, He performed the greatest miracle available to mankind. He forgave the mans sin. Gave him a clean slate! Thats why He came! But here, it was the most shocking thing He could have done and it got a reaction. III. The Skepticism (21)
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And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? Jesus comment put the Pharisees into a self-righteous rage! Theyre thinking, Aha, weve got Him now. Weve got him now! He slipped up this time. They were looking for ammunition and they had it. To claim to be God was a capital offense; it was what eventually did get Jesus killed. And they were right, werent they? Only God can forgive sins in the ultimate sense. Just like you cant forgive me for offending Jim, Jesus could not forgive this man for offending God which is the one against whom all sin is ultimately an offense. Only God could forgive sin. Their logic was irrefutable. Only God can forgive sin. Jesus has claimed a prerogative of God! Therefore Jesus is blaspheming. Irrefutable logic and they were rubbing their hands together in anticipation of nailing Him on this point. But they had made one slight error a fatal error. They failed to take one critical possibility into account, and Jesus is about to point it out in dramatic fashion. IV. The Snare (22-23)

Vv. 22-23, When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven you, or to say, Rise and walk? They think theyve got Him, but in the blink of an eye, Jesus, having perceived their thoughts, baits a trap: Gents, Ive got a question. Is it easier to say your sins are forgiven or to say rise and walk? Intriguing question, right? Either would be hard to do. But Jesus doesnt ask which is easiest to do? He asks, Which is easier to say? And that answer is, its easier to say your sins are forgiven. Why? Because nobody can prove one way or the other whether it happened or not. You cant see forgiveness happen, right? But if you say, Rise and walk, something better happen, or youve been exposed, right? Youd be seen as a fraud. Youd better be able to deliver the goods or youre dead in the water credibility out the window! With this question, Jesus has baited the hook; He has set the trap. And before they can even answer, He goes right on, knowing that everyone watching sees what is happening. V. The Sting (24-25)

With the trap now baited and set, Jesus strikes. Here comes the sting! V. 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sinshe said to the man who was paralyzedI say to you, rise,
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pick up your bed and go home. 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. Question: how does Jesus healing the mans paralysis demonstrate that He has authority on earth to forgive sins? Notice he says, that you may know. In other words, Im going to prove this to you. How did He do that? By healing the man. Why did that prove His point? Because remember according to their own theology which everyone believed, that mans paralysis was a direct result of his own sin. So when Jesus claimed to forgive him and then made him able to walk it was proof positive by their own theology that his sins were forgiven. According to their beliefs, one minute that man was laying there helpless on that gurney as a direct result of his own sin. The next minute he was walking away praising God. And there they stood with their mouths wide open one minute thinking they had Jesus trapped -- only to find out that they were the ones who had been trapped. The Pharisees were speechless. But others reacted: v. 26, And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, We have seen extraordinary things today. The sting operation was clear! Now, lets recap what this account from Luke taught Theophilus. Luke has been gradually showing more and more of the uniqueness of Christ, but it reaches a pinnacle here. Here for the first time Jesus stands as one person against the arrayed strength of multiple, hostile Pharisees and teachers of the law determined to shut him up and destroy His following. Here for the first time Jesus claims to forgive sin, and they think they have found Him in a fatal error. Instead, he turns the tables on them and according to their own theology He substantiates His claim and leaves them speechless. Here for the first time, by virtue of His claim to forgive sins, Jesus raises Himself above the designation of mere prophet. A prophet might perform mighty miracles as did Elijah and Elisha but no one else in the history of the world who was in their right mind ever claimed to forgive sins. And since the Pharisees were right on one point only God can forgive sins here for the first time Jesus substantiates His claim to be God Himself God in the flesh come to seek and to save that which was lost. Almost incidentally, He heals the man and demonstrates the superiority of Christianity as virtually alone among religions concerned with the redemption of both body and soul! Do you think Theophilus was getting the point? Do you get the point? Beloved, we serve a great Savior! Conc So, Jesus healed that mans body and made him walk again reminding us of what awaits every believer in the kingdom of God when in the words of
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Rev 21:4, He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And Jesus addressed his even greater need for forgiveness of sin and removal of guilt without which he could not have been part of the coming kingdom. Luke has given us a great story, has he not? But as Paul Harvey would say, there is a rest of the story. There must be a rest of the story because we are reminded in Heb 9:22, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. In forgiving that paralyzed man, Jesus anticipated that moment 18 months later when He would be sentenced to die for persisting in His claim to be Almighty God. The Bible is clear that He went on purpose to that cross. Why? Rom 6:10, For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. Jesus knew when He forgave that man that day it would cost Jesus His life to make good on that forgiveness. Thats the rest of the story. What a Savior. There has never been and will never be anyone like Jesus. It reminds me of a comment made by President Kennedy on April 29, 1962. The occasion was a dinner honoring every living Nobel Prize winner. In Kennedys introductory remarks he said, I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone! In a far greater way, Jesus is in a class all by Himself able to heal disease, able to ward off the threats of the Pharisees and most of all able to forgive sin sin that He paid for in His own body on the cross. He is truly Lord of all. On that momentous day he became Lord of the paralytic and his friends. Might this be the momentous day when He becomes your Lord? Lets pray.