Matthew 9:1-8
1And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
Jesus’ response to the paralyzed man was in response to the faith he sees in these people who bring the man to Jesus. His response, however, is not what I might expect. He says “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” It strikes me that Jesus seeks to encourage the paralyzed man by forgiving his sins. He must have known something about the profundity of our need for forgiveness that allowed him to speak so deeply and abruptly to that need.
A deep truth in Jesus’ being connected with a deeply recognized need in the paralyzed man. But the abrupt manner in which Jesus announces this man’s forgiveness is disarming. We all know we need forgiveness; we have all sinned. Sometimes those sins weigh heavily on our conscience. More often the sense of guilt lurks just below the surface of our being. Watching this unfold we might easily have wondered why Jesus didn’t just heal the man straight out.
Jesus’ motive is his self-stated love for and obedience to the Father, and his love for all people. He knows that this man’s deepest need is for forgiveness (“take heart”). He knows also that these words would arrest our attention. But most importantly he knew that he had come to forgive our sins. This forgiveness was costly and far more difficult than simply saying a few words. But forgiveness is our greatest need and Jesus’ gift to all who will receive it.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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