"And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them." (Luke 5:17)
On this occasion Jesus showed the people that the greatest need of all was to be healed from sin, and that the power by which the sick were healed was the power of the forgiveness of sins. "That you may know that the Son of man has power upon earth to forgive sins, (He said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto you, Arise." (Luke 5:24)
Help For All
The poor man had his sins forgiven and was healed of his infirmity. All of the Pharisees and doctors of the law were just as needy of help. They knew that they were sinners, even as every man knows that he is a sinner, though not all would honestly acknowledge it.
But they were not healed of sin because they did not believe that the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
Without Excuse
Someone may say, "But they were without excuse; for they saw the power manifested before their eyes, giving life to a palsied man."
True; and we, too, are without excuse if we have not forgiveness of sins and the power of His life working obedience in us. The miracles of Christ were recorded--not for those people back there,--but for us. "But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name." (John 20:31)
The Power Now Present
Every man sees the power of the Lord working before his eyes today. "We are saved by His life." (Romans 5:10)
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from sin. But, "the blood is the life." (Deuteronomy 12:23)
The power of Christ's life is the power of forgiveness and cleansing, and the power which works the will of God in the believer. But that life is present with every man. Every sinner, no matter how wicked, lives by His life every day. "In Him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28)
Every soul that has life, or power to move, has evidence in itself that Christ's life is given to him. And if he will only believe it, lay hold upon it by faith, that same life will cleanse from sin.
The power of the Lord is present with every man to save him from sin and work righteousness in him if he will only let it be done. It is wonderful, but it is true.--Present Truth, August 22, 1895.