Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

John says this concerning Jesus Christ, "What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life, and the Life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal Life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us, what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write, so that our joy may be complete." (1 John 1:1-4).

He then continues concerning sin, "And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." (1 John 1:5-10). "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23) "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23), but we have an advocate with the Father, "My little children, I am writhing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not only for ours only, but also for those of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2).

That brings us to our question, "How did Jesus show His ability to forgive sins?". While Jesus walked this earth in His ministry, He spoke as one having authority which amazed the multitudes (Matthew 7:28-29). While some things spoken by Him were not fully understood (Luke 2:48-50), by the multitudes (Luke 8:5-10), by His twelve disciples (Luke 18:31-34). Some demanded other signs or that He worked through Beelzebul (Luke 11:14-16). Lawyers were insulted (Luke 11:45), while others scoffed at His words (Luke 6:14), and some tried to get Him to leave the country (Luke 13:31). Some of the rulers believed, but were fearful of the Pharisees (John 12:42). The Jewish leaders who heard what Jesus had done worried more about loosing their nation, their power and their place, counseled together to kill Him (John 11:46-53).

And so, to begin answering our question, we look to something the Lord said before giving a sign before the people to see that they might believe the words spoken by Him. Just as Jesus told the woman who was a sinner that was wiping His feet with her hair and her tears and anointing them with perfume while Simon thought to himself that if He were a prophet, Jesus would not allow her to touch Him. Jesus told Simon that when He entered his house no water was given for His feet, while she wiped His feet with her tears. No kiss was given, but she is kissing His feet. No anointing with oil for His head, but she anointed His feet, and then He said, "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." And He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." And those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" (Luke 7: 36-49).

To answer their question, and ours, we turn to read as Jesus was teaching with many Pharisees and teachers of the law listening and watching, "And behold, some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in, and to set him down in front of Him. And not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, right in the center, in front of Jesus. And seeing their faith, He said, 'Friend, your sins are forgiven you.' And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying 'Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? Bus Jesus, aware of their reasoning, answered and said to them, 'Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But in order that you may know the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,'-He said to the paralytic-'I say to you, rise, and take up your stretcher and go home.' And at once he rose up before them, and took up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. And they were all seized with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, 'We have seen remarkable things today.'" (Luke 5:18-26).

So there we have the answer to our question, as Jesus showed His ability to forgive sins by telling them their sins were forgiven, and then working the miracle on their infirmity to prove to all that He could indeed forgive sins because He truly is the Christ, the Son of God!

"Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book, but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:30-31).