Relief from debt
Relief from debt is rewarding, exhilarating, and a reliever of stress. Like credit bills, we become indebted to God with the need to be forgiven. However, the burden that comes from sin is heavier than any other burden. Being burdened is a humbling experience especially when one is way over their heads. With God, we find relief from our burdens. Jesus invites the burdened to come to him and find rest (Mt. 11:28-30). Unlike earthly burdens that do not offer relief until the debt is paid, in God, there is relief (1Pt. 5:7). Jesus called this man “Son,” who was brought to him on a bed humbled by his condition and burdened with his past as a sign of comfort. He inspires him to be cheerful, “be of good cheer,” he tells him. Knowing God can relieve anyone from any burden is comforting and brings joy (Eph 3:20).
Matthew 9:1-2
And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
We find forgiveness in God. The Bible tells us that all we have to do is confess our sins to God and he will forgive us (1 Jh. 1:9). Those who brought this man to Jesus did not say anything about him to him, the only thing that spoke to Jesus was their faith. Faith is a spiritual virtue. It can be found through a person’s actions, words, or looks. Jesus saw the faith in everyone who brought the man and in him. The men brought this man to Jesus because of his physical condition, but their faith revealed his spiritual condition. Faith is a revealer of man’s condition. The Apostle Paul encountered a man who had faith to be healed and was healed (Acts 14:9). Jesus told the woman with the issue of blood that her faith made her heal (Mk. 5:34).
This powerful miracle is mentioned in the synoptic gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John when Jesus came to his hometown after being rejected in the town of the Gaderans. Once rejected in that town, he did force his way into the people’s lives there at the Gaderans, even though he set free a man from his demons. He came to the town where he lived. There is the idea that because a prophet is not esteemed with his own, one should leave them. But that is not what the scripture teaches us, we are to work to reach them either way.
Matthew 11:28-30
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
1 Peter 5:7
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Ephesians 3:20
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Acts 14:9
9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Mark 5:34
And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.