St. Matthew 9:1–8
In the name of the Father and of the + Son
and of the Holy Spirit –
Which is easier to say, “Your sins are
forgiven” or “Rise and walk”? At first we would probably say “Your sins are
forgiven” is easier. It’s invisible. No one can really tell if it works or not.
If you said, “Rise and walk,” it should be immediately obvious if you had any
real power. But then again, we’ve all seen magicians, illusionists, and the
charlatans on TV. And notice what really causes the problem for Jesus. They
call Him a blasphemer when He says, “Your sins are forgiven.” In Luke’s Gospel
account they say, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but
God alone?” Technically, they’re right. Telling lies about God is blasphemy. Claiming
to be God and claiming to have His ability to forgive sins is the height of
blasphemy. This is what makes them so furious with Jesus. They don’t have a
problem with healings. They don’t have a problem with Jesus being a miracle
worker. But they have a big problem with Him claiming to be God. It is far more
difficult to say things of the faith – things that are invisible, things that
can’t be measured or felt. So when Jesus does this, they can’t stand it.
The same is really still true
today in our churches. Of all the things that we say in church, people are most
offended by the Absolution. “As a called and ordained servant of the Word I
forgive you all your sins.” Still today we hear the complaint: “Who does that
man think he is? He can’t forgive sins. Only God can forgive sins.” And again,
in one sense, this is true. But Jesus, the Son of Man has authority on earth to
forgive sins. And we glorify the God who gives that authority to men.
This is what’s so shocking. Everyone
seems to know that God is allowed to forgive sins. But that’s not why Jesus
forgives sins. It’s not just because He is God. In fact, not even God can just
forgive sins because He feels like it. Sins must be paid for – satisfaction must
be made – there must be atonement. The wages of sin is death – so someone has
to die. Not even God changes that. So why does Jesus have authority to forgive
sins? How does the Son of Man have authority on earth to forgive sins? He has
this authority according to His humanity. He forgives sins as a man. As a man,
He does the work of God. This is so shocking, so beyond the reason of the
scribes and Pharisees. They don’t have this authority – no one does. Only the
One Man who died for the sins of the world. He alone has the authority to
forgive sins.
Our God is one of us and even
took it upon Himself to die as one of us. He became the perfect sacrifice for
us. He made the atonement. He made satisfaction for those accusing scribes and
also for that paralytic and his believing friends. Jesus paid the price for the
good and the bad – for corrupt politicians and for faithful church people. He
died for them all, to reconcile all men to God. It is on THAT basis alone – by
THIS authority – the authority to lay down His life and to take it up again – authority
given to Him by His Father – by this authority He pronounces forgiveness.
In the last chapter of Matthew,
after His death and resurrection, Jesus meets His disciples on a mountain in
Galilee and says: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” But
we really destroy this text when we skip that part and start with the part “Therefore,
go and make disciples…” As any good English teacher would tell you, You can’t
start with “therefore.” “Therefore” needs a reason. Something has to come
before the “therefore.” I can’t just start by saying, “Therefore, I like cats.”
I have to say, “When I was little, we lived on a farm and we had cats in our
barns and they had kittens and I took care of them, therefore, I like cats.” So
in Matthew 28, when Jesus says, “Therefore, go…” it is only BECAUSE of what He
said before that: “All authority has been given to Me.”
Now this is where Christians
might really scratch their heads. We aren’t surprised when Jesus forgives sins
– we know He is God. We aren’t surprised to hear that Jesus has authority – we
know He is God. But how can authority be given to Jesus? Doesn’t He already
have it? Once again, this authority to forgive sins is given to Him as a Man. Yes
– Our Lord Jesus is a recipient. As a man, according to His humanity, He
received all authority from His Father. Jesus – true God and true Man – died in
payment for the sins of the world and then was raised by His Father. And in His
resurrection and ascension He is still true Man. So now He also has the
authority of God as a Man. And THEREFORE He also gives that authority to men. He
gave that authority to forgive sins to His apostles – to His whole Church. The
authority to baptize and teach in Jesus’ Name. The authority to make disciples.
That’s what is behind the water and the words that we saw and heard earlier
when Jada was baptized. It might just look like some guy pouring water and
saying some words to a little baby, but behind all that is the authority of
Jesus. He makes it happen. He does the baptizing – He does the forgiving –
through the men He has authorized to do it. And He is with them always because He
is in the baptizing and the teaching.
If you’re still having trouble
with how authority works, think about a police officer. Why can a police
officer arrest someone or pull you over? Because he has been given authority. He
has been authorized to do that. So also with pastors. Jesus was given authority
and so He gave authority to His ministers. He authorized them to forgive sins
in His name. Let’s be like the crowd then and glorify this God who gives
authority to forgive sins to men. We glorify the God who makes it possible for
us to hear the saving message of Jesus. Our God has come down among us, to be
with us, and to save us. The authority of our God has come down among us – it
is given to men to make His glory known.
Today is a pretty wonderful
Sunday. It’s a full Divine Service – with a Holy Baptism, a sermon on the Holy
Absolution, and finally with the Holy Communion. In all three of these holy
things we hear the authority of Jesus at work for us. So now whenever you hear
the words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit” – that’s Jesus washing your sins away. His authority is there because
He died for your sins and rose again for your justification. And when the
pastor asks you, “Do you believe my forgiveness is God’s forgiveness?” You
answer “Yes” because the authority of Jesus is there. And the pastor will say,
“In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your
sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The
blood of Jesus absolves you of all guilt and declares you righteous in the
Father’s eyes. And then when the pastor speaks the Words of Our Lord: “This is
My body and this is My blood” – that is Jesus, here with you, nourishing you
and strengthening you for this life and for the life to come. His authority is
there because He gave up His body into death and He poured out His blood for
the forgiveness of sins. And now that same body and blood that belongs to your
Lord Jesus is living and reigning with all authority in heaven and on earth. This
Jesus, the only God with the authority to forgive your sins, He is here with
you. And He exercises His authority for you and for your salvation. Let us
glorify this God who gives such authority to men.
In the Holy + Name of Jesus –
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Charlotte, IA
October 11, 2015
Many elements of this sermon are based on sermons
from Rev. David Petersen for Trinity 19.
