Which Is Easier? Mark 2:1-12 Good News Translation (GNT) 1 A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum and the news spread that he was at home. 2 So many people came together that there was no room left, not even out in front of the door. Jesus was preaching the message to them 3 when four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed man to Jesus. 4 Because of the crowd, however, they could not get the man to him. So they made a hole in the roof right above the place where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they let the man down, lying on his mat. 5 Seeing how much faith they had, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Some teachers of the Law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “How does he dare talk like this? This is blasphemy! God is the only one who can forgive sins!” 8 At once Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them, “Why do you think such things? 9 Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 12 While they all watched, the man got up, picked up his mat, and hurried away. They were all completely amazed and praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Looking at this passage of Scripture in context, we see that in the last part of chapter one, Jesus cleansed a man of leprosy. He then commanded the man to show himself to the priest and then to offer sacrifices as commanded by Moses. But he also told the man not to tell anyone about this. Nevertheless, the cleansed man ignored Jesus words and talked freely about what had happened and spread the news everywhere. The chapter ends by saying, As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people came to Him from everywhere. Luke adds this detail, he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed [Luke 5:16]. Then after spending several days in lonely or desert places, he came and entered into Capernaum, which, by the way, was the hometown of Peter and Andrew, James and John, and Philip and Nathaniel [at least they lived in the same vicinity]. Also notice that the text says, the news spread that he was at home. So evidently Jesus had made Capernaum his home and headquarters. We do not know for certain whose house Jesus was in at this time. Was it his or one of his disciples? Some scholars believe that it was Peters house. Nevertheless, Luke does share the fact that as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem [Luke 5:17]. Rooted in jealousy and concerned about Jesus popularity among the people, these men were there to scrutinize and analyze every word and deed of Jesus. After all, Nobody came crowding to them, nor hung on their lips. Ellicotts Commentary for English Readers states the following: They [the Pharisees and doctors of the law] content themselves with comparing notes among themselves, and wait for Him to entangle Himself a little more in their nets. They affect to despise Him. ‘This man’ is spoken in contempt. If He were so poor a creature, why were they there all the way from Jerusalem, some of them? They overdo their part. The short, snarling sentences of their muttered objections, as given in the Revised Version, may be taken as shared among three speakers, each bringing his quota of bitterness. One says, ‘Why doth He thus speak?’ Another curtly answers, ‘He blasphemes’; while a third formally states the great truth on which they rest their indictment. Their principle is impregnable. Forgiveness is a divine prerogative, to be shared by none, to be grasped by none, without, in the act, diminishing God’s glory. But it is not enough to have one premise of your syllogism right. Only God forgives sins; and if this man says that He does, He, no doubt, claims to be, in some sense, God. But whether He ‘blasphemes’ or not depends on what the scribes do not stay to ask; namely, whether He has the right so to claim: and, if He has, it is they, not He, who are the blasphemers. Our text from Mark states, Some teachers of the Law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “How does he dare talk like this? This is blasphemy! God is the only one who can forgive sins!” At once Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them, “Why do you think such things? What was Jesus defense? How was He to answer their objections? The text continues to say that Jesus asks these men the following question, Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? Saying that a persons sins are forgiven and then seeing the immediate results of that is hard to see with the eye because it is not tangible. Thus it would be hard to prove. But Jesus continued by saying, I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!” Now in the Jewish mindset only the High Priest had the authority to go into the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, or later in the Temple, to make atonement for the sins of the people and that only one day a year - on the Day of Atonement [Yom Kippur]. In addition the Lord had to approve of the High Priest and his offering at that time before the people could know that their sins had been covered or atoned for another year. Furthermore, the High Priest came from the tribe of Levi. Jesus, on the other hand, came from the tribe of Judah. In effect, therefore, Jesus was claiming the office of the High Priest [although from the tribe of Judah] when He pronounced that the mans sins were forgiven. So these distinguished Jewish leaders rightly questioned Jesus authority to forgive sins. But here is what the book of Hebrews teaches: Hebrews 5:1-10 Amplified Bible (AMP) 1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in things relating to God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to exercise gentleness and forbearance toward the ignorant and erring, since he himself also is liable to moral weakness and physical infirmity. 3 And because of this he is obliged to offer sacrifice for his own sins, as well as for those of the people. 4 Besides, one does not appropriate for himself the honor [of being high priest], but he is called by God and receives it of Him, just as Aaron did. 5 So too Christ (the Messiah) did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed and exalted by Him Who said to Him, You are My Son; today I have begotten You; 6 As He says also in another place, You are a Priest [appointed] forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek. 7 In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions [for that which He not only wanted but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father]. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered 9 And, [His completed experience] making Him perfectly [equipped], He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him, 10 Being designated and recognized and saluted by God as High Priest after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek. So Jesus speaks to the sick of the palsy and says to him, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? If the man, first of all, does not obey Jesus instructions, Jesus would have no tangible proof of His authority to forgive or to heal to show to these Jewish leaders. Secondly, if the sick of the palsy was not able to get up or to pick up his mat or to walk, that too would prove that Jesus was not who He claimed to be. A lot, therefore, hinged on the obedience and ability of the paralyzed man. As someone has said, The condition of healing is faith, and the test of faith is obedience. Jesus was going to let the miracle working power of God in the life of this man do the talking for Him. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth the following: 1 Corinthians 2:2-5 New King James Version (NKJV) 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 11:13:51 +0000
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