JULY 6, 2023 – FORGIVING

READ: Mark 2: 1-12.

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. – Mark 2:9,10

Not long after, Jesus goes to his house in Capernaum, and so many people gather that no one can enter anymore. Jesus speaks to them with God’s Word. But then four men come carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They cannot get inside, but they lower the paralyzed man down through an opening in the roof. Jesus sees in these men and the paralyzed man faith in Him, as evidenced by the effort they have made to come to Jesus. 

Jesus addresses him tenderly as “son”: “Son, your sins are forgiven.” This is the first time this is recorded as being spoken by Jesus! Jesus wants to remove the cause of illness, he wants to save him completely. That is the most beautiful thing he can give to the man.

But the scribes think to themselves: Why does He blaspheme God? He acts as if He is God because only God can forgive sins. The scribes are correct in their last statement, but their conclusion is wrong because of their unbelief. For it is precisely Jesus who proves Himself to be God. 

Jesus sees through their thoughts and lets them know that he does. He still wants to help them come to the recognition of His divinity. He calls himself the Son of Man, who has authority on earth to forgive sins, referring to the place at the right hand of the Father (14:62; Dan. 7:13,14), and demonstrates this by telling the man: “Rise, take up your mat.” 

The paralyzed man immediately stands up. Everyone is beside themselves and exclaims: “We have never seen anything like this!” But they forget the greater miracle of forgiveness that they have heard.

Why does Christ no longer show healing miracles?

Singing: Ps. 110:2