DAY SIX | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Mark 2:1-12
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Immediately 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? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He 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!”
REFLECTION
On one hand this is a story about friendship. Four friends carrying their friend to see Jesus, in hopes that he might heal him, only to find out that the crowds were so massive, that they didn’t stand a chance to see Jesus. But, these were no ordinary friends, instead of turning back and giving up, they went above and beyond (pardon the pun) and brought him onto the roof, cut a hole in it, and then devised a way of lowering their friend down in front of Jesus. I mean talk about good friends.
But, what happens next has less to do about friendship, and more to do with the other “f” word, forgiveness. First of all, one scholar suggests that this wasn’t just anybody’s house, but this might have been Jesus’ own house. He had just gotten back from a trip and they sought him out and overwhelmed him. So in a real sense, Jesus forgave the man and his friends for putting a hole in his own roof. Then again, there was something about the way he said, “your forgiven.” He didn’t just forgive them for the roof, he forgave the man of his sins.
Once again Jesus is accumulating his list of things he has authority over. So far the list includes Scripture, demons, sickness and now he has authority over sin? Only priests could offer forgiveness, and then only in the name of God. Who does he think he is?
Jesus did come to offer forgiveness. But it comes at a high price as we will see later. But forgiveness also comes at a high price for us too. Some think forgiveness is a sign of weakness. I’m reminded of the Fred Rogers story when he asked his professor Dr. Orr what was the meaning in the line “One little word shall fell him." in the hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God?” Curious what the one word that shall hurt the enemy was, Dr Orr replied, “The one word that the enemy cannot stand is forgiveness.”
If you have ever tried to forgive on your own, you can often feel like the man on the stretcher, helpless and alone. Keep digging until you get into the presence of Jesus. He truly is the only one who can help forgive.
Mark 2:1-12
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Immediately 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? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He 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!”
REFLECTION
On one hand this is a story about friendship. Four friends carrying their friend to see Jesus, in hopes that he might heal him, only to find out that the crowds were so massive, that they didn’t stand a chance to see Jesus. But, these were no ordinary friends, instead of turning back and giving up, they went above and beyond (pardon the pun) and brought him onto the roof, cut a hole in it, and then devised a way of lowering their friend down in front of Jesus. I mean talk about good friends.
But, what happens next has less to do about friendship, and more to do with the other “f” word, forgiveness. First of all, one scholar suggests that this wasn’t just anybody’s house, but this might have been Jesus’ own house. He had just gotten back from a trip and they sought him out and overwhelmed him. So in a real sense, Jesus forgave the man and his friends for putting a hole in his own roof. Then again, there was something about the way he said, “your forgiven.” He didn’t just forgive them for the roof, he forgave the man of his sins.
Once again Jesus is accumulating his list of things he has authority over. So far the list includes Scripture, demons, sickness and now he has authority over sin? Only priests could offer forgiveness, and then only in the name of God. Who does he think he is?
Jesus did come to offer forgiveness. But it comes at a high price as we will see later. But forgiveness also comes at a high price for us too. Some think forgiveness is a sign of weakness. I’m reminded of the Fred Rogers story when he asked his professor Dr. Orr what was the meaning in the line “One little word shall fell him." in the hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God?” Curious what the one word that shall hurt the enemy was, Dr Orr replied, “The one word that the enemy cannot stand is forgiveness.”
If you have ever tried to forgive on your own, you can often feel like the man on the stretcher, helpless and alone. Keep digging until you get into the presence of Jesus. He truly is the only one who can help forgive.