Authority to Forgive – Mk 2:1-12
Jesus has demonstrated His authority over disease, demons and doctrine so is that why Messiah has come?
1 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. (NASB®)
Why is Jesus’ main focus preaching?
After the healed leper took it upon himself to spread his news freely, Jesus spent some time in remote areas letting the dust settle. Upon returning to his home base, the crowds gathered to such an extent that there was no longer any access. Jesus is in no way distracted and preaches the gospel, exactly what He came for. Although the people wanted healing, Jesus knew they needed to change their way of thinking.
Am I eager to be in the presence of Jesus ?
Do I come to Jesus for what I want or what He provides?
3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.(NASB®)
Why couldn’t the paralyzed man get to Jesus?
Being unable to move, forced this man to be completely dependent on others for many things including transport. Fortunately, he had friends that were not only willing to bear the inconvenience of his burden but assume total responsibility to get him to Jesus, no matter the effort or cost. In complete vulnerability, he was lowered in the midst of the very people “standing” in the way fixated on their own needs.
Am I willing to bear another’s burden?
Am I so focused on my own needs that I miss the needs of others?
5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (NASB®)
What did their actions demonstrate?
It is one thing to proclaim a belief but alive faith is revealed through action. Unwavering conviction causes a man with seemingly no hope, to seek restoration in Jesus and for friends, despite all evidence to the contrary, to gain access to the only One where restoration could be found. As always, Jesus sees us as who we were created to be and provides more than we could have ever asked for or imagined.
Is my faith observable?
Do I truly understand my greatest need?
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?” (NASB®)
What concerned the religious leaders?
In their prominent position, seated “court-side”, the experts in interpreting the law could not only see everything that was happening but heard exactly what was said. By pronouncing the forgiveness of sins, Jesus claimed God’s authority and in so doing professes to be God, punishable by death i.e. assuming it is not true.
Do I seek to be first?
Is Jesus God?
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 pallet 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 pallet and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”(NASB®)
Why did Jesus perform miracles?
Jesus knew that for them to accept Him as God shook them at their very core so he challenged them to address it. Reasoning, He lets them know He is aware of what is in their hearts, something only God could do, and asks them to consider the effort behind two statements. At first glance, it appears less difficult to say “Your sins are forgiven” because it cannot be verified. This conclusion only reveals the deceitfulness of our hearts and our lack of appreciating the true weight of sin. We are so limited by the need for visible evidence, that to physically heal the man seems to be the true test because proof would “stand” before them. Jesus desires them to truly understand who He is and so performs the miracle to establish beyond a doubt, that He is God.
Seeing, unfortunately, is not necessarily believing. The crowd acknowledges God is at work but if they had truly understood that God was standing before them, wouldn’t they have fallen to the ground, repented and believed the gospel?
How much evidence do I need to believe?
What is stopping me from trusting Jesus?
Worship
Forgiven – Sanctus Real – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F9z54g30Eo
Lift Your Head Weary Sinner – Crowder – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYdhJFI7QlI
Forgiveness – TobyMac – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfkhqpl81NA