John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

And Jesus, seeing their faith, *said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone?”

Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’?

But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —He *said to the paralyzed man,

“Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons and daughters of men, and whatever blasphemies they commit;