Forgiveness as healing

And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” Then some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.” ~ Matthew 9:2-6

Forgiveness is not about forgetting. It is about letting go of another person's throat......Forgiveness does not create a relationship. Unless people speak the truth about what they have done and change their mind and behavior, a relationship of trust is not possible. When you forgive someone you certainly release them from judgment, but without true change, no real relationship can be established.........Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust the one you forgive. But should they finally confess and repent, you will discover a miracle in your own heart that allows you to reach out and begin to build between you a bridge of reconciliation.........Forgiveness does not excuse anything.........You may have to declare your forgiveness a hundred times the first day and the second day, but the third day will be less and each day after, until one day you will realize that you have forgiven completely. And then one day you will pray for his wholeness... ~ William P. Young, The Shack
Jesus is delightfully playing with the scribes here.
The man who comes to Jesus with his friends is paralyzed, but Jesus' first words out of his mouth aren't words to heal his physical infirmities.  
Instead, Jesus forgives the man's sins, and the scribes jump on that. Jesus of course knows what they are thinking even though they are talking to themselves, and he, not the scribes and not the man, brings up the question of healing vs. forgiving.  In forgiving, he does what appears to be the less difficult thing and holds the physical healing for the big "ta-da" finale!
But that leads me to wondering: is Jesus asking a trick question? Is forgiving easier or is healing easier?  It  feels to me that Jesus is saying that forgiving is, and on most levels, my instinct would agree, the easier thing to do.  Telling someone to stand up and walk when they are paralyzed, isn't something I think of as being in my wheelhouse.
And yet, I know from personal experience that forgiveness is hard.  Really hard. And in some ways that's why I have a bit of empathy for the scribes here.  Sometimes it feels as if forgiveness is so hard that only God can do it.
And yet, Jesus shows us and tells us and leads us to see that forgiveness is the way of God. And that we can do it.  
Even though it is hard.
And forgiveness itself is part and parcel I think with healing, and that is partly why this question is such a trick question for me.  The two - "your sins are forgiven" and "stand and walk" are inexorably connected.
Forgiveness is healing.  Healing for the person being forgiven, but also, and perhaps more importantly, healing for the one doing the forgiving.

God of healing mercies, lead me to forgive just as you forgive, and help me to bask in the wholeness and healing that forgiveness leads to.  Amen.

Thoughts for engagement:

- When was the hardest thing or person you even had to forgive? Have you forgiven?
- Read William P Young's quote on forgiveness. Had forgiveness worked that way for you?
- Have you ever been forgiven for something and ended up feeling healed or whole again as a result?

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