Jesus forgave a paralyzed man of his sins, and the enemies of Jesus accused Him of blasphemy, saying that only God can forgive sins. True, only God can forgive sins, but the critics of Jesus did not know who stood before them. Therefore, this happened next,

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He 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 up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!” (Luke 5.22–26).

It is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” than to say, “Rise up and walk,” because you cannot see the result of the former, but you can of the latter. Therefore, it is easier to fake the former, but not the latter.

What Jesus did then was show them that He had authority to forgive sins, and to demonstrate that the man’s sins had been forgiven, Jesus healed the man, showing that Jesus had divine power and the approval of heaven. That meant that when Jesus forgave the man of his sins, they were forgiven, because Jesus was God in the flesh.