Jesus Forgives and Heals A Paralyzed Man - Mark 2:1-12

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man
2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 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!”


Reflection:
As we have said over the past couple of days, Jesus discerned in prayer with the Father that it was time for him to move on to another town. So a few days later he enters Capernaum. Capernaum was a fishing village on the Northern side of the Sea of Galilee. Peter, James, Andrew and John lived there. It was a hub of Jesus' ministry. Jesus was teaching in someone's house and the crowd was so large there was no room to get in. A man who was paralyzed had four friends that wanted him to get healed so badly they not only carried him on a mat, but dug a hole in the roof and lowered him. (Now these were some good friends!) Jesus not only saw the man on the mat, but more importantly he saw a faith that would do whatever it took to get an audience with him.

But rather than just healing the man, Jesus starts by saying, "Son your sins are forgiven." Jesus saw a need for healing in two areas: spiritual and physical and he addressed the spiritual first. It just so happened that were some teachers of the Law were there, probably Pharisees. When they heard this they accused him of blasphemy. But then realizing this was a teachable moment, Jesus says, "What is easier to say take up your mat and walk", or "your sins are forgiven". But I want you to know the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.

Jesus wanted to show that his authority extended to both the spiritual and physical realm. The same authority that was able to heal the soul of the man was able to heal the body of the man. This is why it is important in any healing ministry to minster to the whole person: body, soul, mind and emotions. And Jesus has authority over all of it. And we see the great faith of the men who do whatever it takes to get the man to Jesus. Where do you or someone else important in your life need healing? What lengths would you do to take it to Jesus? Jesus is not too busy to hear your prayers now. He sees faith and rewards it. Thanks be to God that Jesus brings not only healing to our bodies on earth for this life, but forgives our sins so we might live eternally. Amen.

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