A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:1-5
This is our Lords second trip to Capernaum, and the people had not soon forgotten their last encounter with Jesus (1:21-34). The religious leaders,
...thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Mark 2:6b-7
They were absolutely right in saying that God alone can forgive someone of their sins, but they were dead wrong in saying that Jesus was blaspheming. Jesus shows Himself to be God in a very subtle yet miraculous way.
Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." Mark 2:8-11
It would seem much more difficult to heal a paraplegic than to say 'your sins are forgiven.' He then proved by doing the much more difficult that He was able to do the easier as well. "Son of Man" is a messianic title form the old testament book of Daniel, appearing over 80 times in the gospels.
He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" Mark 2:12
Imagine, your standing outside in a crowd of people, hoping to catch a glimpse or even hear the voice of Jesus. Then you watch five men climb up on the roof, carrying the towns paraplegic, and they lower him through a hole. In just a few moments that same man comes walking out of the building with his mat in one hand. What just happened?! Shock and amazement no doubt, "and they praised God,"
Application:
"Son, your sins are forgiven." Many people have come to Jesus because they want him to fix their problems, get them out of debt, save their marriage, whatever the problem is, we want Jesus to fix it and we want it now. But Jesus is not in the business of giving out Band-aids. Jesus is in the business of surgery, He cuts deep and opens old infected wounds, in order that He may get to the real issue, the true reason for our sufferings, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Have your sins been forgiven this day? John says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." That is the issue, that is what we need, let us fall on His grace this day and confess our sins before Him, then let the joy poor out knowing you are forgiven indeed.
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