Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? Mark 2:9
More than 40,000 people show up regularly for church services conducted by a man named Joel Olsteen. Most rock stars would love to be so popular! And it’s no wonder that he’s popular, he promises his listeners that they will become rich, and that God is obliged to help them do it. Olsteen is just one of the many preachers of the so-called prosperity gospel that makes a mockery of the Word of God. Olsteen has made a fortune from his collection plates, his book sales, and other endeavours. But all he has and knows is about the good life here, nothing about eternal life. He should consider the question that Jesus asks in today’s text.
It took a miracle to heal the palsied man, no question. But even with his health restored, this man had only a matter of a few decades to enjoy the benefits of that miracle. But the forgiveness of his sins is a benefit that he will enjoy forever. There is no question which is the greatest miracle. But as to which was the easiest for Jesus to perform, that’s not an issue. As the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, He has all power over diseases. As the Saviour of the world, His sacrifice on Calvary provides forgiveness of sins. His question to the Pharisees was to point out Who He is. Healing and forgiving are all available through Him. The temporary problem of the man’s palsy, or the potentially eternal problem of his sin, both are under His control. But we need to make sure we understand which is the most important.
Whether it is the prosperity that Olsteen promises to his followers, or the cure for palsy, everything that affects our lifestyles and our health is only short-term. Do Olsteen’s methods work? I don’t know, and in light of eternity, I don’t care. The most he can promise offers nothing to keep sinners out of hell, not even himself. That is why his prosperity gospel is so inferior to the Gospel that Jesus died to give us. A Gospel series where one or two people trust Christ does more good than many months of packed audiences where Olsteen preaches. The truth of the Word of God is much more precious to us than the piles of fluff that false teachers try to throw at us.
It is significant that Jesus forgave the man before He healed him. We have forgiveness of sins. No healing, or money, or pleasures, or popularity, or influence can possibly be better than that! -Jim MacIntosh