Jesus had authority to forgive
In Capernaum, friends brought a paralysed man to Jesus by lowering him through a roof. Before healing the man’s body, Jesus told him that his sins were forgiven. The scribes objected because they recognised that forgiving sins belongs to God. Jesus answered their concern by showing that the Son of man had authority on earth to forgive sins, then healed the man openly (Mark 2:5, Mark 2:10-12).
That moment was not Jesus brushing aside the need for the cross. He was revealing his identity. He did not merely announce that God might forgive someday. He spoke and acted with the authority that belongs to God himself.
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
The cross was always the foundation
God’s forgiveness has never meant that sin does not matter. The death of Jesus was the sacrifice that truly dealt with sin. Though it was still future during Jesus’ earthly ministry, God already knew and intended that Christ would give himself for sinners.
Paul says that God had passed over sins committed beforehand and then displayed his righteousness through Christ’s sacrifice (Romans 3:25-26). In other words, God was not simply overlooking evil. At the cross, he showed how he can be perfectly just while making right those who trust in Jesus.
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Christ's work reaches back as well as forward
People before Jesus’ death were not finally saved by animal sacrifices. Those sacrifices could not permanently take away human sin, but they pointed towards God’s promised provision (Hebrews 10:4). Faithful people were called to turn to God and rely on his mercy.
Hebrews explains that Christ’s death redeemed sins committed under the first covenant too (Hebrews 9:15). So Abraham, David, and people Jesus forgave during his ministry were not saved by a different system. They were saved by God’s grace through the sacrifice of Christ, which God had promised and would certainly accomplish.
Come to Jesus with confidence
Jesus’ forgiveness was never a reward for people who had cleaned up their lives first. When a woman came to him in sorrow and love, Jesus assured her that her faith had brought her into peace with God (Luke 7:47-50). Her past was real, but his mercy was greater.
The same is true now. You do not need to earn a hearing with God or carry your guilt alone. Turn to Christ honestly and trust the work he completed through his death and resurrection. His words of forgiveness before the cross were not premature. They came from the Saviour who was already going to give himself for the world.
And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.