But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up they bed, and go unto thine house. - Matthew 9:6
When the Pharisees attacked the work of Jesus, they asked, "Who can forgive sins but God only?" Their premise was true, for only God can offer man forgiveness. Therefore, if Christ does for us what only God can do, who can He be? Truly, He is the Son of God, and "in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily," Colossians 2:9.
The power of the heavenly Father was manifested in His Son. It had been made known in its fullness on Golgotha's cross. All we know of God's nature, His attributes of love, justice, and mercy have come to us through Jesus.
Sin stands forth in all its blackness when we see it in contrast to the purity of the Saviour. "Sin is never so dreadful as when we see the Saviour with that blood upon His garments. And the Saviour Himself is never so dear, never wins so utter and so tender a love, as when we see what it has cost Him to save us."
John Masefield once wrote a vivid description of the trial of Jesus in Pilate's judgment hall. After the mob has taken Jesus away, the wife of Pilate stands looking across the city of Jerusalem. She sees three crosses, and as she stands watching she speaks to a Roman soldier who has been at the crucifixion. "Is He dead yet?" she asks. "No, He is not dead," the soldier replies. "But surely He is dead. He has been hanging there so long now!" Then the soldier answers, "No, lady, he is not dead. His death is let loose on the world, and neither Jew nor Roman can stop Him!"
Thanks be to God for the power that has been let loose on the world through His Son! This is the power which the disciples felt, and although they were only a handful of men they challenged the forces of darkness, they preached Jesus who had power to cleanse from sin, and thus they changed their world from dark paganism to glorious Christianity. - Neff
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