The Gospel of Mark 2:1-12

 Brian Hirvela
12/22/23

"1 And when He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 And being unable to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof over where He was; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the mat where the paralytic was lying.

5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your mat and walk’?

10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your mat, and go to your home.”12 And he got up and immediately picked up the mat and went out before everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

Jesus returned to Capernaum after some time in the open areas and it spread that He was at home.
This caused a multitude of people to come to Him at the place He was staying and listen to Him while He spoke the word of God to them. While this was going on it proved hard for four men who were carrying a paralytic to Jesus for, they could not get in to bring him to Him.

With great faith, the four men lifted the paralytic onto the roof of the house Jesus was at. The house would have had a flat roof and then according to the description of events, there was only one floor. They dug through the earthen roof and when the opening was wide enough lowered the paralytic down to the ground in front of Jesus.

I could only imagine that as the four men dug through the roof those on the inside would watch with great earnest as dirt was falling around them. So, when they lowered the paralytic, it would stand to reason that all below were not surprised by what they were seeing.

Jesus saw the faith and determination of the four men and the paralytic that Jesus could heal the sick man. Does this sound familiar? Last week we spoke of Jesus healing the Leper and having authority over physical sickness and the faith of the leper who believed fully that by Jesus' will, he could be healed. So, these people believed in what Jesus could do.

But Jesus went one step further to show His authority by declaring to the paralytic that his sins were forgiven. It is one thing to be healed of an earthly sickness, it is another to be healed of that which hinders us from being with God. The sickness of sin is rampant in mankind and blinds us from not only the presence of God but also His grace which are like diamonds that shine on a dark canvas.

This wickedness is in the hearts of man and Jesus knows all our hearts. Observe how He was able to determine what those who were with him reasoned in their hearts. “the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Good point, who can forgive sins but God alone? Thus, if Jesus forgives Sins by His actions, He is declaring that He is God. To prove that He is the Messiah, the Son of God and the Son of Man Jesus turns to them asking why they are reasoning such things in their hearts. Immediately one should see that to know what is in man’s heart Jesus must have the ability and the power to know all our reasonings and thoughts.

He poses a question to them saying, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your mat and walk’? As a human, we have no power to do either of these, but we do, because of Jesus we have the power to forgive the sins of others who have wronged us, but none have the power to heal a man like Jesus can. But Jesus elevates His authority and says to the paralytic, “I say to you, get up, pick up your mat, and go to your home.”

The sick man is no longer lame or paralyzed, he is fully healed instantly with strength to be able to pick up his mat and leave for home. Thus, Jesus shows them that He is the Son of Man, proving He is God by not only forgiving the former paralytic and healing him completely. He has the power of God. Remember in John, Jesus confronted the scribes and Pharisees explaining to them that He has shown them the works that He does that prove that He is God, and it’s this work right here that is one of many that proves His deity.

This work was so great that the people around Jesus said, “We have never seen anything like this.” And so it is true. Before Jesus, no one was able to do the works He was doing and so we today wonder with awe that Jesus has the power to restore the souls of mankind. Like these men and the leper have faith to run to Jesus who can forgive you of your sins restore your soul and bring you into a right relationship with God.

There is great joy in Jesus who brings life to all who repent and believe. Jesus the Messiah has risen from the dead, conquering it, and lives. He is in your midst with us, but you cannot see. You are blind and your heart is darkened thus we bring the light that we proclaim.  

Death will soon take you and when you die you will face judgment for your sins. God is just and cannot by His nature abide by sin nor dismiss it. Every act of rebellion and transgression against God is wrapped up in sin, yet you have foolishly chosen to do it because you love your sin, rather than follow Christ and His righteousness that would truly enrich you.

From the Ten Commandments, we have false worship, idolatry, misusing God’s name and living vain lives, violating the Sabbath, dishonoring parents, murder, adultery, stealing, lying/false witness, and coveting.

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), Jesus took some of these same sins to a new level. Regarding murder, Jesus said, “Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.... But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell” (Matthew 5:22).

Regarding adultery, Jesus said, “Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). This includes men lusting other men and women lusting other women.

In Galatians 5:19-21, we are told, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

 In addition to the various lists that can be found in Scripture, we are told in 1 John 5:17 that “all wrongdoing is sin.” Not only does the Bible tell us the things not to do, but in James 4:17, we are informed that anyone “who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”

God is just and He must bring recompense to every sinner.

You are that sinner, and you cannot comprehend your sins to root them all out and make yourself right with God. Not by obeying the Law, nor by deciding that you are right with God. Only God can make you right with Him and He sent His son Jesus to live that perfect life without sin, die, and rise on the third day alive.

Jesus bore all our sins; He bore all the sins of all who believe in Him.  He suffered the totality of God’s Wrath upon Himself that every sinner deserves, willingly, so that those who believe in Jesus may have peace with God.

As it is written, “God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace, you have been saved—and raised us with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus for by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;9 not of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:5-8

Turn away from your unrighteous sinful ways which lead to death and turn toward and follow Jesus which leads to life.