The Gospel of Mark: Healing a Paralytic

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” ~ Mark 2:1-12



Jesus began his ministry pushing boundaries. 

And scribes were in the business of keeping those boundaries tightly guarded. As interpreters of the law, everything for them had a pretty clear definition. God's law was paramount, and they were uniquely qualified to explain it.

Only God forgave, but they were the ones who got to pronounce it. (see how that works?)

To raise a suggestion about God - for example, who and how God forgives - that went against the teachings of the law, was blasphemy. It was seen as dishonoring God.

And by the way, what was Jesus executed for? Blasphemy.

Pushing boundaries.

It strikes me as funny really when you think about it, this paralytic was pushed through the roof by his determined friends. That should have certainly raised eyebrows more than a pronouncement about forgiveness.

But Jesus threatened the established way of doing things.

And he wasn't about to stop now.

Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen

Engagement Questions:

Have you ever assured someone who was suffering from guilt that their sin was forgiven? Where does our authority to do that come from? Or do we have the authority to do that?

What is something that you consider blasphemy? Do we have consequences still for blasphemy? What do we think about countries that still execute for blasphemy?

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