Mark 2:1-12
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
1A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
6Now 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?"
8Immediately 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? 9Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 12He 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!"
God gave Jesus the authority to heal...Many people had heard about Jesus' healing capabilities...A paralytic and his friends had faith in Jesus...Their faith was so strong that even though they had come to Jesus to have a friend healed, when they got there, there was no room or way to get into the house...But the paralytic and his friends were committed to see Jesus...Faith is like this, it takes a commitment...So they made it up to the roof of the house...They then lowered their paralyzed friend from a hole they made in the roof...When Jesus saw the paralyzed one being lowered from the ceiling, He saw their faith...When He saw their faith, the first thing He said was your sins are forgiven...Jesus did not say, you are healed...He did not say you can walk again...He said, your sins are forgiven...
Jesus throughout His ministry teaches us about priorities, healings, and miracles...Faith in God is first...Our health is very important, but Jesus reminds us that the Kingdom of God is where we should be focused...Healing the sick is important to Him, but being close to God is paramount to Him...Today would be no different for Jesus in respect to miracles...If He we here today, His miracles, and His healing miracles would certainly draw the crowds and the media...
What is also interesting about this healing, is did the paralytic want to be forgiven?...We are not sure...I am sure the paralyzed one certainly did not mind to be forgiven after and in this case before he was healed...It is something for us to think about because, Jesus forgives him first...We are being taught, the need for forgiveness is first...
The teachers of the law tell us only God can forgive sins...They tell us this is blasphemy...Jesus reminds them that His forgiving sins is not blasphemy...To show the teachers of the law that God has given Him the authority to forgive sins, He now tells the paralytic to get up, take your mat and walk...The paralyzed one gets up and walks out in full view of all of them...Never had the people there seen anything like this...
The paralytic persevered and got to Jesus...Had the paralytic got to the house and decided the crowd was too large and said we will never get in, then his sins would have never been forgiven and he would have never gotten healed...
Following how this individual got healed we saw, first he persevered...He then made contact with Jesus...Next Jesus forgave the paralytic of his sins...Then he was healed of his paralysis...Then he could walk again...Jesus puts forgiveness of sins first and physical healing second...When we pray, we need to realized this perseverance and our need to be forgiven...
Jesus is the Master of Forgiveness...He knows all about and everything about forgiveness...