And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And 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 man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But 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, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
The man in this story was as helpless as the guy in this picture. Presumably he had a very significant paralysis but he did have friends, who were determined to get him help if they possibly could! We don’t know at what level his paralysis began but he was severely incapacitated. Except by a miracle a cure was impossible. All attention would have been captured by the method of entry! I don’t know whether his paralysis was caused by his sinning. A drunk who runs a red-light and ends up paralysed may well say that ‘his disease is caused by his sin! But we have no clue as to why this man is paralysed or how long he had been unable to move – he may have had TB of his spine etc! Jesus seems to have ignored his condition and said “Son, your sins are forgiven.” I believe that Jesus was ‘playing’ the audience. He knew what the response of the opposition would be! They cried out in horror “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” There was no doubt some background talk and horror but Jesus simply replied “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But 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, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” Both Jesus and Mark make their point clearly. Truly only God can forgive sin and Jesus states that He can and did!
Proverbs 21: 13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
Prayer: You know what I am thinking about this story, Jesus. Wash away any unbelief which I have.
As I read it! 