Proof of Authority (Luke 5:17-26)

As I said before, Jesus often gave reasons for his miracles.  That's because people didn't automatically have faith in him.  They shouldn't have.  There were others running around claiming to be the Savior/Messiah, too.  Jesus needed to give them proof.  When he performed specific miracles, he would use it of proof of a specific aspect of his being.

One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Luke 5:17-21 NIV)

This proof was one that nobody saw coming.  You see, prophets performed miracles.  That was a part of the requirement.  They needed to have miracles and/or predictions as signs that they were speaking for God.  The Savior/Messiah, they expected, would have similar signs provided by God.  That way everyone would know when he arrived on the scene.  Jesus, however, is claiming more than this.  He is claiming to have the authority to forgive sins.  This authority is reserved only for God.

Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today." (Luke 5:22-26 NIV)

Now Jesus performs the miracle to give people proof.  He tells them it is proof that he has the power to forgive sins.  This is something never given to any prophet.  It is also something they did not expect from the Messiah.  Jesus was claiming to have the unique authority of God.  This caused all the theologians and teachers of the law to sit up and take notice.  Who is this guy?  Who does he think that he is?  Did he just claim to be God?

How about you?  Would you sit up and take notice of this miracle?  Would you take notice of someone claiming to have the authority to forgive sins?  Would you recognize someone claiming to be God?  How would you react?  How do you react to Jesus?