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Healing The Guilty Conscience
Brian Mashburn
March 25, 2007
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Fogiven? Prove it, Jesus.
One day Jesus was teaching. Because he had the power of the Holy Spirit to heal the sick, lots of people crowded in and around the house he was in. A paralytic guy had four friends dig through the roof to lower him into Jesus' presence. Jesus was impressed with their faith, so he decided to give him something greater than the ability to walk.
"Your sins are forgiven," he said. He didn't heal his legs, but his heart. He gave him life.
We aren't told what happened inside his spirit, his mind, his emotions when Jesus did that. We aren't told of the peace, joy, and righteousness that came flooding into him. But we are told what the people around him were thinking. They said, "Who is this guy who thinks he has the power to forgive sins?"
Jesus responds with shock, saying something to the effect of, "What? I just give the ultimate gift, the ultimate kind of healing to this man, and you respond with doubt and question? Do you need me to do the much lesser work of physical healing to prove to you that I have the power to give you ultimate healing? Fine. So that you have yet another chance at believing, I'll do this much lesser work." Then Jesus healed the man physically. Not because the man needed it. Not because the man asked for it. But to prove to the others that Jesus has the power to give the ultimate gift of healing...the power to absolutely and irrevocably forgive sin.
God has done everything necessary for the complete and total healing of your guilty conscience (Hebrews 10:22). And all you need to do is put down your version of doubt that says, "Who is this that thinks he can forgive my sins?" and believe him (John 6:28-29). Then you will be healed. And yes, even of your guilty conscience.
What is your excuse?
"He can forgive others, but not my sins."
"I've hurt other people, I don't deserve forgiveness."
"He's forgiven me so that I can have eternal life later...not so that I escape the guilt now."
"I need my guilt in order to be motivated to do anything good."
"I'm afraid I will just sin more if I let him heal my guilt. My guilt keeps me in check morally."
"My guilt helps me feel like I'm paying penance for my sin. It makes me feel like I'm repaying him."
"Guilt seems humble."
Okay, church...enough...stop making like Jesus is so powerless. Be healed and live. "Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." Mark 5:34