Our lesson today continues to show in rapid fire succession, Mark's fascination with the authority Jesus consistently displayed, while yet acting as a servant to those with whom he came into contact.  He has told us that Jesus called rough, unlearned, narrow- minded men as his disciples and immediately began the process of changing and moulding them. (Mark 1:16-20) 

Then how Jesus taught impressively, showing extraordinary knowledge, authority and insight into the truths of life. (vs. 21-22) He recounted how Jesus demonstrated his authority to command the unclean spirits, overwhelming them by his superior power and demanding obedience from them. (vs. 23-28) 

Then Mark immediately recounted how Jesus tenderly healed Simon Peter’s mother

(vs. 29-31) and then at sundown healed many sick with sundry diseases and those that were demon possessed. 

Then how he traveled on into other areas in Galilee; preaching, healing and casting out devils and then finally healing a leper. It was important that the priest recognize and confirm this healing of a leper, for this would be the first such healing recorded after the previous healing of a non-Jewish, Assyrian army general leper by Elisha the prophet, eight hundred years earlier.  

The rabbis in the first century had maintained strongly that it was impossible to heal this disease of leprosy and in fact only Messiah, when he came, could cure leprosy.  It is felt by many scholars that because the leper disobeyed Jesus’ command not tell anyone of his healing and that he go and show himself to the priest, to have them corroborate the healing as a testimony to them, this declaration of a messianic sign to the priesthood of Israel was delayed and Jesus was forced to avoid his ministry in the cities and for awhile had to stay in the rural areas.  The news of this healing however would arouse immense curiosity among the people and from the Scribes and leadership of Israel. 

It is with this disobedience by the leper in the immediate background that we now read about a marvellous incident that shows the determination of the faith of five men, a remarkable and beautiful expression of a most desirable quality of faith. 

Placed alongside with this, is the reaction of the scribes, who had been observing everything what was happening and were mentally outraged by Jesus’ claim to have absolute authority and power.

In this we see an incident where a suffering person recognized Jesus' power and the extent of Jesus’ compassionate response that went so far as to have him touch the leper but we also see a strange kind of disobedience by the man who was healed which created a powerful obstacle. 

Then immediately we see both the preferred kind of faith and the off-base behavior by the leadership of Israel, who in view of the healing of the leper, had no excuse for not recognizing Messiah and his power.

The circumstances surrounding the miracle that is the subject of today’s study is unique, even among Jesus miracles, for on this occasion Jesus publicly and successfully ventured into what thinking onlookers viewed as the exclusive province of God. In their minds Jesus audaciously and blasphemously forgave sins, an act only God could do. 

At this point in his public ministry, Jesus was nearing the end of what many call the ‘Year of Acclamation’. While his early ministry is not recorded in the same detail as the latter part, especially by Mark, it may be summed up in such verses as:

And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. Mark 1:28.

And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. Mark 1:39.

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matt. 9:35. 

This popularity and ‘honeymoon’ with the public was about to give way to hostility and confrontation. Despite the healing of the leper, the religious elites did not want to recognize its messianic significance and from among many who had so enthusiastically embraced Him at first, disappointment and unbelief, because they thought that he would usher in the Kingdom with pomp, ceremony, power and freedom from Gentile oppression.  

The miracle we study today is part of that turning point and is also recorded by both Luke and Matthew. Seemingly many were prepared to accept the ‘Healing Rabbi who spoke with authority or even the ‘Prophet’ from Galilee, but accepting the ‘Man’ who claimed to be Messiah God was another matter.  

   ¹⁷And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

   ¹⁸The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

   20And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

Today’s lesson is focused on a miracle that went beyond the physical realm to the core of who Jesus really was. His public forgiveness of the sins of a paralytic that he healed, astounded those present and marked a watershed, a turning point in the way many saw Him, especially the religious authorities. Jesus had moved from the healing of physical ailments and disease to the healing of the ultimate disease, the sickness of sin. 

Jesus boldly declared himself to be equal to all that Messiah would do in both word and deed and this miracle attested to his deity

THE TEXT

Verse 1.   Jesus’ fame had become such that it was difficult for him to appear in public because of the crush of the crowds that attended his every appearance. His healing of a leper who was such a blabbermouth, though he had been strictly charged by Jesus to do otherwise, had created such excitement that, for some time, Jesus kept out of the cities.

His primary ministry of teaching and preaching the kingdom of God was brought to a standstill. His retreat to some desert area to find some respite proved futile as the crowds followed him there and typically he ministered to all their needs, (1:45). It was after this excursion into the desert that he again entered Capernaum, which by now had become his headquarters.

Jesus must have entered Capernaum quietly and by now it could be expected that the frenzy that followed the healed leper's sensational report might have subsided but such was his fame, that before long his presence there became known and the word spread quickly; ‘the Man is in the house’.

Verse 2. Almost immediately the crowds began to gather. Apparently they were not prepared to wait till the Sabbath, when they could definitely hear him in the synagogue. The crowd gathered thick and fast, so much so, that one could not even approach the door of the house.

….he preached the word, the life-giving word of God, the gospel; as important as the miracles of Jesus were, the preaching of the gospel was even more important, for it was the hearing of the gospel that saved men.

Verse 3-4.   The manner in which the paralytic was carried speaks to the seriousness of his condition; borne by four as if upon a bier, a telling picture of both his physical as well as his spiritual condition, both to which Jesus will attend.

So deep was the crowd outside the house where Jesus was teaching, that the paralytic and his bearers could not even approach the door.

After quickly appraising the situation that they could not see Jesus through normal means, their response was one born of desperation. Likely there were other sick people waiting to see Jesus and who were probably not willing to give up their place. Someone would have to bear the cost of the damage done to the house but this did not deter the desperate seekers.

One can more accurately think of these men as men who were determined. Their faith was such that though Jesus was not now conducting a healing service but rather a preaching service away from the streets, they were determined to reach Jesus.

Mark obviously wants to encourage us to have and exercise this kind of faith, for this incident appears to be suggesting that God will respond to the needs of people regardless of what they are, despite the fact that it is not on the program.

We can now look at the quality of faith and begin to identify several aspects of this desirable kind of faith.

These men had the kind of faith that clearly impelled them to “do” something that was  difficult.  Perhaps they had to carry the sick man some distance through the streets and then  when their passage was blocked, they undertook the onerous task of carrying this full-grown man up an outside stairway to the roof.  This could not have been an easy task.

Incidentally, it illustrates perfectly what is involved in bringing men to Christ.  Sometimes it is certainly no easy job but can involve much faith and creativity. Their thinking might have been, if they could just carry this man to Christ once, they would not need to carry him any more and so they resorted to the extreme; with some amount of effort they uncovered the roof.

Next we see that these men did something very unorthodox.  They did not give up easily, sit down or spend much time researching how to get to Jesus.  They recognized quickly that they had to risk the disapproval of the house owner and also the disapproval of those present, because they would be interrupting the meeting.

Next these men did something that would cost quite a bit in order to save their friend.  Someone would have to repair the roof and we can be sure that the owner was not happy to see the tiles on top of his house moved and daylight suddenly appear.  Employing some innovative engineering they lowered the bed with the paralytic into the room where Jesus was teaching. Some believe that this was Peter's house, and we all know how excitable a personality Peter was.

These men were obviously ready, for they had the faith at cost to themselves to do what was necessary to bring their friend to Christ.

Verse 5.  Anyone who saw the paralytic or knew him would have considered physical healing his greatest need.

Fact is, the greatest and most urgent need of every human being is to know God and Jesus whom He had sent. Jesus at first responds to the man’s most pressing need, that of the forgiveness of his sins. Jesus was prepared to give the man more than he was asking for. He calls him son, a term of endearment, showing his compassion, meant to console and an assurance to the paralytic that he would be healed.

It is fair to assume that the man was brought to Jesus because of his physical condition and so the question arises, as to why Jesus would first forgive the man’s sins. It seems evident however from Jesus’ words that this man’s paralysis was a result of some lapse, and therefore Jesus went straight to the heart of the issue.

One commentator offers the following explanation for what Jesus said:

1st. The man might have brought on this affection of the palsy by a long course of vicious indulgence. Conscious of guilt, he may have feared that he was so great a sinner that Christ would not regard him. He therefore assured him that his offences were pardoned, and that he might lay aside his fears.

2nd. Jesus might be willing to show his power to forgive sins. Had he stated it without any miracle, the Jews would not have believed it, and even his disciples might have been staggered. In proof of it, he worked a miracle; and no one, therefore, could doubt that he had the power. The miracle was wrought in express attestation of the assertion that he had the power to forgive sins. As God would not work a miracle to confirm a falsehood, or to deceive men, the miracle was a solemn confirmation, on the part of God, that Jesus had the power to forgive sins.

3rd. The Jews regarded disease as the effect of sin, John 9:2; James 5:14,15. There is a real connexion between sin and suffering, as in the case of gluttony, intemperate drinking, lewdness, debauchery. Jesus might be willing to direct the minds of the spectators to this fact; and by pointing them to a manifest instance of the effect of sin, to lead them to hate and forsake it. Diseases are sometimes the direct judgment of God for sin, 1 Corinthians 5:3-5; 11:30; 2 Samuel 24:10-14. This truth, also, Christ might have been desirous of impressing on the people.

The invalid and his helpers showed great faith in Jesus’ power to heal and this was immediately noted by our Saviour. The four friends showed their faith by the bold and persistent efforts that took liberties with the house and the palsied man showed his faith by consenting to the extraordinary measures employed in his behalf.

One writer comments on faith:

Faith works - The men expended great effort to help their friend.

Faith persists - They didn’t let personal inconvenience stop them.

Faith succeeds - Their faith was rewarded. The man was healed.

It is to be noted that faith in God which leads to “interrupting” God when he is the middle of some activity will not go un-noticed, for God is well pleased when believers demonstrate their faith in him.  

Note that Jesus never rebuked them. Believers should never lose their ability to defy the status quo and should not fall prey to the attitude that they are afraid to do anything, simply because it might be criticized. One should never be afraid to bring their needs to God and the brethren should never put obstacles in their way but should be ready to help meet their needs.

Verse 6-7.   Mark now shifts the focus away from the paralysed man to the Scribes who had been silently listening to Jesus and observing everything that was happening. If calling this poor paralytic son surprised the scribes, who were too far removed from the ordinary people to speak to them so familiarly, they were totally taken aback, when Jesus pronounced the man’s sins forgiven.

Cynically ignoring all that Jesus had said and done up to this point in his ministry that clearly marked Him as the Promised Messiah of Scripture (Isaiah 61), some scribes present in the audience, who had doubtlessly come to checkout the charismatic Rabbi from Galilee, in their hearts, not publicly, accused Jesus of blasphemy.

Clearly they were suspicious of Jesus and quite sceptical.  This is the first of five confrontations or controversies with the leadership of Israel, that really show us the continuing fight between good and evil.  Some would not show the active demonstration of faith by the men who had brought the paralysed man to Jesus through the roof.

Their spirit was clearly critical, and all of them, without consulting each other, were really asking themselves who Jesus thought he was.  They knew the Old Testament Scriptures that only God can forgive sins and therefore one can recognize that they were right in their reasoning:

….who can forgive sins but God only? for the Scriptures had said: I even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Isaiah 43:25.

Luke provides some additional details that some Pharisees were also in attendance:

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them, Luke 5:17. 

The presence of these notables is further evidence of Jesus’ growing influence and we cannot fault them from coming to examine what Jesus was teaching, given the impact he was having among the people, his reputation recorded in Mark 1:32- 34 and given the fact that he was demonstrating tremendous and unheard of healing powers. They recognized the necessity of coming to some definite judgment regarding Jesus. 

Here it is evident that they were refusing to see who Jesus was. Wilfully or not, they had drawn the wrong conclusion. They disregarded the fact that someone with impeccable prophetic credentials had pointed out Jesus as the Messiah, the Lamb of God, who had come to take away the sins of the world. John the Baptist proclamations could not be challenged. 

The scribes were not faulty in their logic, but were mistaken in their premises; hence Jesus will not deny their doctrine but he will correct their mistaken application of it to himself. This led them to reject the deity of Jesus and his position as Messiah, even though overwhelming evidence was right in front of their eyes.

The word blaspheme originally means to speak evil of any one, to injure by words, to blame unjustly. When applied to God, it means to speak of him unjustly, to ascribe to him acts and attributes that he does not possess, or to speak impiously or profanely. It also means to say or do anything by which his name or honour is insulted, or which conveys an impression unfavourable to God. It means, also, to attempt to do or say a thing which belongs to him alone, or which he only can do. This is its meaning here. Christ was charged with saying a thing in his own name, or attempting to do a thing which properly belonged to God; thus assuming the place of God, and doing him injury, as the scribes supposed, by an invasion of his prerogatives. "None," said they, (see Mark and Luke,) "can forgive sins but God only" In this they reasoned correctly. See Isaiah 43:25; 44:22. None of the prophets had this power; and by saying that he forgave sins, Jesus was understood to affirm that he was Divine; and as he proved this by working a miracle expressly to confirm the claim, it follows that he is Divine, or equal with the Father.

Verse 8.   Why reason ye..

Jesus question challenged their denial of his deity, for he had read their minds, thereby displaying another attribute peculiar to God, that of his omniscience (Matt.12:25; John 2:25; 1Chron.28:9).  

Jesus was not able to read their minds because of any recognized habit or tendency on their part to criticize him, for this is the first recorded indication of hostility on the part of the scribes. The uncanny ability to know the inner thoughts of someone was to characterize Messiah (Isa.11:2-3) and itself proved he could forgive sins, for the attributes of God are inseparable. He that can read the mind can also forgive sins.  In fact it should have bothered them that Jesus read their thoughts and knew what they were questioning within themselves and that should have led them to accept that He was God visiting men.   

We should learn from this that it is very dangerous to reason in our hearts and think that these reasoning escape God.  God knows everything that happens in the hearts of men.  Those who are believers and have the Holy Spirit should be very careful about inclining themselves toward the desires of the flesh. The Holy Spirit is always there and we can grieve him by our thoughts.  Nothing in thought or action escapes the attention of God. 

Jesus' reaction is a clear statement to his mercy and compassion.  We see here and understand that even though Jesus knows of our sins and the particulars of each sin, he is still willing to forgive us.  Our thoughts and actions should show therefore that we are ready to repent, obtain forgiveness of sins, and enter into eternal life. 

Of note is the Bible’s use of the word ‘heart’ to mean the mind, the seat of reason and intelligence. It is often used in this manner in the scriptures.

Verse 9.   Whether is it easier to say…

Here Jesus confronts their doubts and will demonstrate before their very eyes his power to forgive sins, an unseen act, by doing the physically impossible, curing the palsied, a visible act. The key word in this verse is the word say, for at issue was the power or effect of his speech. One writer explains:

The scribes after their first shock of surprise, thought that Jesus feared to attempt the fraud of a so-called miracle in the presence of learned men, lest he should be detected and exposed; and hence looked upon his present action as an attempt to bear himself safely off before the public, and to maintain his standing by the use of high-sounding words. They felt that he used words of unseen effect, because he dared not use those of seen effect. This was precisely the view that Jesus knew they would take, and that he wished them to take; for by showing his ability to work in the realms of sight that which is impossible; viz.: the healing of the sick man, he could place before them proof suited to their own reasoning that he had a like ability to work the impossible in the realms of the unseen; viz.: the forgiveness of the man's sins. By thus demonstrating his authority in the eternal and physical world, Jesus assures us of his dominion over the internal and spiritual 

Jesus’ proposition that he could just as easily do the more difficult, external, thing that they could all see, and hence corroborate the fact that he had the power to do the thing that they could not see, namely to forgive sins, should have settled the question as to who he really was, if in fact he could heal the man.

Verse 10-11.   The tension must have been mounting in the hearts of the scribes and the other onlookers with each word Jesus spoke and in these verses he drops the ‘bomb’ on them…...so that ye may know. Shocked or not, given the teaching of the scriptures and the correct reasoning of the scribes that only God could forgive sins, if in fact the paralytic was healed, only one conclusion could be drawn. Jesus was in fact Messiah!

That ye may know…unequivocally, without apology, Jesus calling himself the Son of Man, claims the power to forgive sins on earth, by ordering the paralytic to take up thy bed, and go…  He would perform a wonder that only God could perform and then they would know that he had power to forgive sins. There are only two other recorded occasions of Jesus forgiving sins (Luke 7:48; 23:43) and given that his audience was representative of Jewish society, Jesus was here declaring to the nation, that he was the Messiah.

The phrase on earth implies he has another abode.

The Son of Man, His favorite name for Himself, is a title from Daniel 10:13 with profound implications, if this rabbi is in fact that Son of Man. Some argue Jesus use of the title emphasized his humanity, though here it is his divine personality that is in view. This miracle particularly highlights the human and divine natures of our Lord.

Note that this exchange between Jesus and the Scribes was carried on while the paralytic laid on the bed. We can just imagine what he might have been thinking during all this.  Would he really believe that Jesus was saying that he could forgive his sin and that he would be able to do as Jesus commanded him? Or would he accept what these religious professional leaders were saying, that Jesus did not have the right to forgive sin?  Who would he believe?  Was his case really hopeless?  Did he make a mistake to come to Jesus?

All these thoughts would have been running through his mind and we know that Satan would be trying to encourage this man to go into reverse. But in contrast to the lack of faith by the Scribes who just sat there dumb, all obstacles to faith were brushed aside.

Verse 12.   The miracle was executed at Jesus’ command. As was typical of his miracles, the man was immediately healed with a word: without incantations or agonizings, without any long prayers, waving of hands, jerking of the head, or histrionics. It was totally and dramatically accomplished with utmost ease, without prior staging and with no props. In view of all the circumstances, this miracle was done under test conditions, proving dramatically the power and deity of Jesus. Thus Jesus performed a three-fold miracle in the presence of those most interested in exposing it if false and most able to do so, had it not been true.

But in contrast the Scribes remain seated and silent, while the people glorified God, the man took up his bed, walked out in front of everybody and went home.

One commentator writes on this verse:

As to the test of power or authority, the miracle of Jesus was very convincing; for in the popular opinion sin was a cause of which disease was the effect. We are told, on the authority of later rabbis, that it was a maxim among the Jews that no diseased person could be healed till his sins were blotted out. We also recognize a correlation between sins and diseases, which the Saviour's use of this miracle justifies. A mere miracle, such as swallowing fire or causing iron to float, would not prove his ability to forgive sins. The proof consisted in the relation which disease bears to sin, and the consequent relation which healing bears to forgiveness.

CONCLUSION

Jesus miracles were more often than not born of his compassion for people but invariably they brought glory to God’s name, as so clearly seen in this healing. Christians are to show love and concern for each other and in so doing we too will bring glory to God’s name, the purpose for which we have been saved.  

Jesus healed both the cause and effect of the paralytic’s disease but though he has taken care of the cause he will not necessarily take away the effect (Mark 1:40). It is important for us to note that there is sometimes a relationship between our physical and spiritual health. There are often physical and emotional implications to our spiritual condition, for when we need spiritual healing, there will be physical and emotional suffering.  That is why Jesus forgave the sin of the paralysed man and then restored his ability to walk. 

All the healing in our lives begin with our relationship to God.  That is the only way we can be really assured of permanent healing. It is therefore important for people to understand how their sins can be forgiven, and that once the sins have been forgiven they will be freed from inner attention, turmoil, anxiety and insecurity.  This is so because they have become precious to God, chosen of God, and taken into his family. 

Christians nonetheless can be comforted in the knowledge that there is a day coming when they will be beyond the reach of sin and all its effects.  

The group that brought the sick man set a good example of love and concern for the brethren, they extended themselves to have their ‘friend in need’ see Jesus. All who do not know Jesus have a desperate need to know him and Christians must be prepared to do no less, to bring these people to Christ.  

Jesus proved his power to forgive sins to a tough and skeptical audience, he is still as willing and able as he ever was; he is still our healer. Let us confess our sins and receive the forgiveness he so graciously offers. 

Then let us announce that he will forgive sin, for we have been given a ministry of reconciliation. One writer admonishes:

“ We need to proclaim, both in our words and ministry activity, this offer of forgiveness that can cleanse all sin.  There are many people in our communities whose souls are being strangled by guilt, regret, and self-absorption.  We can speak the healing word of Jesus that tears apart the stranglehold from somebody, and allow the cleansing work of God, by his Spirit, to flood into that person's life, bringing release and freedom from bondage.